City chiefs to bring in extra salt supplies ahead of winter

COUNCIL chiefs are to bring in extra salt supplies ahead of next winter in a bid to ensure the city's stocks do not run low if there is another big freeze.

The city council is currently drawing up a new plan for dealing with severe weather and has confirmed that salt stocks will be significantly increased.

The decision to increase supplies comes after a consultation exercise found that there is demand for local priorities such as shopping areas, clinics, schools and other community facilities to be dealt with better during heavy snow.

Mark Turley, director of the city council's services for communities department, said: "In order that salt levels do not become a limiting factor, arrangements are being progressed to significantly increase the city's salt storage capacity."

The review comes after two successive winters of severe weather. Part of the review is looking at whether to increase the number of roads judged as top priority for gritting.