Winter Service update 2pm 7/12/2010 from Somerset Highways

The forecast for today is variable cloud cover this afternoon and also the chance of some mist or freezing fog patches persisting in places. Road Surface Temperatures are currently below zero in places. Later in the afternoon, during the evening and overnight Road Surface Temperatures will remain below zero with the chance of some icy stretches where roads are damp. Freezing fog patches will appear in places.. It will be mainly fine  tomorrow morning.

As we salted the pre-treated network last night and again this morning we are confident there is high residual salt and will therefore only treat the secondary network (F2's) this afternoon. The scouts will be out on the pre-treated network at 4.00 with crews ready to go at 4.45 tomorrow morning.
There have been enquiries about salt bins and replenishment. As you are probably aware it is the local communities who purchase salt bins and site them on the highway with our approval. At the time they are sited the local community are told we will fill them at the start of the season as we  record all locations on our Geographic Information System, (GIS). Once the local community start to use the salt we have no way of knowing how much remains and they are asked to let us know when stocks are getting low, not when they are empty, and we will try to replenish when we have resource available which during bad weather is not immediately as our efforts are concentrated on the pre-treated network.

This has worked well previously but with the bad weather over the last few years usage from the bins has increased and they are being emptied quickly, often faster than we can fill them. Replenishment requests should be directed to Somerset Direct (0845 345 9155) who can then pass locations on to the area offices for action when resource becomes available.
Sonia Davidson-Grant, Environment Director, has asked me to include a personal message from her in this update.
"I would like to personally thank you for your hard work and support in keeping Somerset moving and assisting our communities in these extreme weather conditions. Working together, we are making an important difference to many people's daily experience and protecting our local economy. "