Our winter policy gives priority to high use roads. Also, roads that access community facilities, such as hospitals, schools and shopping centres.
During icy conditions and snowfall, we respond straightaway to requests for assistance from the ambulance, fire service and Police. This is on any of our roads and we divert or call out gritters as needed.
We cannot grit the whole of the road network in Calderdale due to the time and cost involved.
If you want to know how we decide where and when to grit, view our:
Where we grit
Our winter service policy complies with the code of practice 'Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure'. This aims to provide a safe, well managed and resilient highway network for all who use it.
The winter service sees a move from specific guidelines to a risk-based approach. Appropriate risks are determined from a wide range of evidence. The priority for road gritting is based on route hierarchy and level of use.
The review included checking what routes can be reached by gritters (access to some roads is narrowed by parked cars). Also, that there is a safe turning circle for the large gritting vehicles.