In 2007/08 the winter maintenance budget for councils, which includes gritting and salting, was £185million.
How does Salt Cell work?
Last week, the Department for Transport convened ‘Salt Cell’, which provides advice to the salt companies on how to prioritise their deliveries and facilitate mutual aid agreements. It recommended to the Department for Transport last Friday that councils and the Highways Agency reduce their salt use by 25 per cent.
Salt Cell is convened by the Department for Transport and includes the Cabinet Office, the LGA, the Highways Agency and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. It assesses which areas of the country need salt the most and makes recommendations to the suppliers accordingly. Salt Cell’s decisions are not binding on the salt companies or individual local authorities.
Salt Cell met last Wednesday, Friday and yesterday (Tuesday). It will meet again on Friday.
for more information on UK council grit and salt supplies
