THEY'VE got true grit. But can they keep our roads ice free and safe this winter?
North East Lincolnshire's salt gritters have been out on their final test runs ready for the winter season.
The council's fleet of five dedicated gritters, quad bikes and other winter vehicles underwent final checks this week.
Meanwhile, the council has stockpiled more than 2,000 tonnes of salt – with another 700 tonnes to come within the next few weeks.
Steve Whittles, highways maintenance manager for council partner Balfour Beatty, said the volume of salt at their disposal was higher than that used in the severe winter of two years ago.
He said: "We are totally prepared for winter.
"We are now into what we call low season, and November is the start of the medium season when we are constantly monitoring conditions.
"At this stage there's no indication as to what weather we are going to have, so we prepare in the same way for every winter.
"In addition to our five dedicated gritting vehicles we have got a number of quad bikes and smaller vehicles fitted with gritters and ploughs for dealing with footways and cycle tracks.
"This is equipment that was purchased after the severe winter two years ago."
The council's Highway Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan for 2012/13, which sets out how Balfour Beatty will keep the borough's roads safe in the event of snow and ice, was approved by the portfolio holder for environment and regeneration Peter Wheatley last week, as reported.
It details a network of "strategic" routes totalling 112km of mainly A roads, which will be given priority in extreme conditions.
In all, 355km of the borough's 607km road network will be gritted during the winter.
