Council to bolster winter maintenance programme for 2018/19

Investment in community grit bins, a review of pavement treatment and plans for the greater use of technology are all part of the preparations for the year ahead as Aberdeen City Council bolsters its winter maintenance programme (May 30th).Members of the Operational Delivery Committee yesterday (May 29) agreed to the measures as part of a number of recommendations stemming from a report reviewing the 2017/18 operations.The Council carried out treatment across 97 days over the winter period as the city encountered prolonged periods of adverse weather. A total of 15,321 tonnes of salt were used during 2017/18 – a significant increase in treatment from the 4,602 tonnes used in the previous year, during milder conditions.The spend on winter maintenance in 2017/18 was £2.33million – £606,000 over the initial budget due to the difficult conditions, including an increase of £375,000 on salt supplies in comparison to the previous year.Further investment is planned for 2018/19 to expand the provision of community stocks, with expenditure of £40,000 to install 20 large grit bins in communal areas throughout the city approved by councillors at yesterday’s meeting.