Greater care than normal is always required when driving in hazardous conditions, particularly in temperatures that may freeze wet road surfaces.

You can find more winter driving advice on the Think Road Safety website.

During the Winter Service period Bournemouth's Highways Operations Team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help achieve as free-flowing traffic conditions as the weather will allow. Please see the Winter Service Manual 2007-08 for more details

Site specific weather forecasts are received several times daily and are analysed by the Winter Maintenance Officer, who is one of two fully trained officers.

A decision is then made about the level and timing of of any required road surface treatment. Revised forecasts may be received at any time leading to a review of necessary treatment.

Some facts:

• The widely used term "gritting" is misleading, as the material used in pre-treatment is actually crushed natural rock salt. Stone grit is only used on hard-packed snow and ice.
• There around 60 salt bins located around Bournemouth for immediate self-help for road users.
• 5 dedicated spreading vehicles are available to cover 10 salting routes as required by the weather conditions.
• Bournemouth Borough Council operates its Winter Service within the shared guidelines of the nationally published Codes of Best Practice.

Snow Clearance

Snow clearance involves implementing extensive emergency plans and includes the mobilisation of resources all aimed at clearing roads affected in the shortest time possible.

Snow ploughing commences when 40mm of snow has fallen and snow continues to fall. Our aim is to clear all priority roads of snow, as soon as conditions permit, and clearance work will continue as necessary. In certain extreme conditions it may be necessary to spread a mixture of salt and grit onto the snow to achieve traction, particularly in the case of compacted snow.

Snow Ploughs

Bournemouth Borough Council currently has 5 snow ploughs at its disposal.

Update for 2007/2008

As part of a the on-going review of winter service operations and to embrace the ethos of Best Value, for 2007/2008 Bournemouth Borough Council has entered into an agreement with Poole Borough Council allowing the use of their Hatch Pond Depot for winter service operations.

For more information or if you have any queries or comments, please call:

• Customer Service Contact Centre on (01202) 451199 during normal office hours.
• Out of Hours Service on (01202) 451145 outside normal office hours
• Email the Highways Team.

Just click on the following links to complete an online form to request:

• Gritting
• Snow Clearance