With the first cold snap of the winter Wales this weekend, the Welsh Assembly Government continues to work closely with local authorities to ensure roads in Wales remain accessible.
Preparations include:
- New storage facilities across Wales
- 130,000 tonnes of salt stored across Wales with a further 38,000 due to be delivered shortly
- New guidelines on the use of salt to preserve stocks and make sure they are used effectively.
Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones said,
“Whilst local authorities are responsible for clearing local roads we continue to talk with them to ensure they have adequate supplies of salt.
“We have been coordinating with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the County Surveyors’ Society (CSS) Wales to improve salt stocks throughout Wales in preparation for this winter in order to keep transport moving and Wales’ roads free of snow.
“The Welsh Assembly Government and Councils have been preparing extensively for conditions such as these for the past twelve months. There is currently 130,000 tonnes of salt stored for the roads, with a further 38,000 ordered and due to be delivered shortly. This will be stored in barns across the country. A different approach to how salt is used will also mean that it is utilised more effectively and will last longer.
“We are continuing to coordinate these arrangements and do whatever is necessary to keep Wales moving and ensure that essential services are still able to operate. Since last winter, we have been planning extensively for the cold weather conditions that are being forecast for this week and we will be monitoring the situation round the clock to ensure that we do all we can to keep Wales moving.
“We would like to remind drivers to be aware of the conditions and take care on the roads.”
The Welsh Assembly Government has also financed the purchase of an additional salt barn in Blaenau Gwent to act as a salt reserve for the Unitary Authorities in the area. The approximate capacity is 10,000 tonnes and this has been ordered jointly by the councils in the area.
