Back-up grittingin placefor winter

Roads bosses are to draft in external contractors to make sure routes are gritted in Ayrshire this winter.

The move is part of the plan to cope with expected severe weather and icy conditions.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA) said there is an “almost certain” risk that extreme flooding and high winds could cripple some road networks.

Back-up contractors will be hired to lend a hand in salting pavements.

Salt usage in East Ayrshire last season soared to 2, 143 tonnes compared with 10,066 tonnes in South Ayrshire.

Head of Roads Stewart Turner said: “We have taken the decision, at the recent meeting of the Ayrshire Shared Services Joint Committee, to extend our current framework contracts for winter.’’

He said external drivers, vehicles, plant, and equipment would be drafted in to provide “assistance” in severe conditions.

He added: “During the winter months of 2017 and well into 2018, we experienced prolonged periods of severe weather. We have taken this into consideration and the extended framework contract means that if we are faced with a similar situation we can call on external support as required.”

Residents in 21 communities throughout East and South Ayrshire have volunteered to salt footpaths in their local areas.

The ARA has established a specialist flooding team to deal with increasing rainfall.