Council Stocks up on Gritting Salt for Winter in Midst of International Shortage

With Bedford Borough enjoying warm summer weather, Mayor Dave Hodgson's commitment to making the Council as well prepared as possible to for next winter and any repeat of the 'Big Freeze' has seen an additional supply of 3,000 tonnes of gritting salt secured from Sweden. The Council has placed orders with domestic salt suppliers to replenish stocks for next winter, but a severe national shortage has left these suppliers unable to guarantee delivery before the winter. Rather than waiting and hoping that these orders materialise, the Mayor authorised a search of the international market, which is also suffering a shortage of supplies. A supply of 3,000 tonnes of salt in Sweden was located and secured, and this will be shipped in and added to the Council's stocks in readiness for gritting local roads when the next bout of cold weather hits.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "We are enjoying glorious sunshine at the moment, and only by going to the market at this early stage could we be assured of obtaining salt supplies as an international shortage continues. We have taken this pro-active move as we are intent on doing all we can to help residents stay safe on winter roads and to keep Bedford Borough moving. This additional order of 3,000 tonnes of salt will put us in a much stronger position going into this winter. It has taken a lot of hard work to firstly locate and then secure this additional supply while salt is still available on the international market, but we will be extremely glad of it if we face another very cold winter."

"Some may wonder why, in the midst of the warm weather at the moment and at the height of the summer, we are worrying about winter roads. However, with a widespread shortage of salt, we have acted as quickly as possible to ensure we are not left simply crossing our fingers as next winter approaches. Everyone will remember only too well how all local authorities were left unable to replenish salt stocks last winter as the Government took control of supplies. In the wake of this, and after the coldest conditions in thirty years, residents have a right to expect that the Council is doing all it can to prepare in advance of next winter. We simply cannot be too well-prepared when it comes to helping keep schools and businesses open and to making local roads as safe as possible when cold weather hits."

Liberal Democrat Transport Portfolio Holder Cllr Charles Royden said: "UK salt suppliers have simply not been able to keep up with demand, but we cannot simply shrug our shoulders and accept that for local residents who want to be able to stay safe on the Borough's roads this winter. That is why we have worked to secure this additional supply of salt. We went into last winter with a full stock of salt, but as the Big Freeze took hold the Government ordered us to cut grit usage by fifty per cent and took control of supplies, and we were unable to re-stock. This new supply of salt represents a 50% increase over and above our previous salt capacity, so we are now well prepared for next winter, despite an ongoing national salt shortage."