Gritters out in Nottinghamshire to clear roads to Covid-19 vaccination centres

Nottinghamshire County Council has been working with the NHS to ensure that the immediate areas around vaccination centres are gritted, following this month’s severe weather.

While the areas around some centres may already be covered by existing gritting routes, the council is reviewing the arrangements with the NHS and partners to ensure everything possible is done to keep sites operational.

Gritting teams cover main routes made up of A and B roads and major bus routes every time they go out, amounting to approximately 1,120 miles and one third of the county’s road network.

One road to every major settlement, some steep residential roads and access routes to special schools are also covered as part of the council’s severe weather routes when bad weather is forecast.

Councillor John Cottee, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s communities and place committee, said: “With more vaccination centres opening across the county, we are committed to making sure that we all do what we can to keep centres open during severe weather.

“Our gritting teams cover our main routes each time they go out, but we recognise that naturally not all vaccination centres will be located in these areas.

“We know how vital it is for people to have the Covid-19 vaccine, and by gritting the sites where centres are based, our communities can be assured that we are doing all we can to make sure they can get there in all but the very worst conditions.

“Previous years are an example of how unpredictable winter weather can be and we must thank our gritting teams for keeping Nottinghamshire safe when most of us are tucked up at home.

“Since Christmas, the team has been out gritting on 15 consecutive nights and will continue to clear the way for us throughout the winter months.”

More information about gritting can be found at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/gritting/about.