As colder weather approaches, Cambridgeshire County Council is stepping up preparations to keep residents safe, supported, and moving throughout the winter months.
Feedback from the Council’s recent Quality of Life Survey showed that roads and transport remain among residents’ top priorities. In response, the Council has made early preparations to ensure roads, paths, and cycleways are ready for whatever the winter brings.
Keeping Roads and Paths Clear
The county’s winter service fleet of 38 gritters and two quad bikes is now on standby, supported by four fully stocked salt barns holding 12,000 tonnes of rock salt. Hundreds of community grit bins have also been replenished and are available for public use.
Preparation for winter is a year-round effort. Between April and October, the Council and its partners carry out surface treatments on roads and footpaths to prevent deterioration and ensure smoother, safer journeys once the temperature drops.
Alongside these proactive measures, crews handle reactive repairs, adverse weather works, and emergency callouts — from pothole repairs and gritting to maintaining salt stockpiles and conducting routine safety checks.
Around-the-Clock Winter Operations
Between 1 November and 15 April, forecasts are monitored daily using roadside sensors to detect frost and ice. Based on these forecasts, salt treatments are applied to priority routes before conditions become hazardous.
Last winter, gritting crews were called out 48 times, often working through the night to keep Cambridgeshire’s roads safe and accessible. The Council also works with a network of local volunteers who help clear pavements and footpaths for pedestrians.
Protecting Against Flooding
To further reduce risks during winter weather, the Council maintains more than 110,000 drains across Cambridgeshire. Crews work year-round to clear and repair these drains and have recently established new adverse weather compounds at local depots, ensuring teams have quick access to the equipment they need to respond rapidly to flooding or icy conditions.
Council Commitment to a Safer, Greener Cambridgeshire
Cllr Robin Wyatt, Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee, said:
“We know how important it is for residents to feel safe and supported during the winter months. Our crews and volunteers work tirelessly to keep roads, cycleways, and paths clear, so that whether you’re driving, cycling, or walking, you can feel confident in your journey.
Keep an eye out for our gritters as they practice their dry runs at the end of October — it’s all part of our commitment to building a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire.”
Source: Cambridgeshire County Council
