WEATHER: Gritters prepare for coldest winter in 50 years in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire County Council’s gritting teams will go on low-risk standby from October 1, and then full, 24-hour standby on November 1.

The council has already filled four salt barns to the brim with rock salt.

Garry Chadburn, the council’s winter maintenance manager, said: “Salt restocks have been completed to our 20,000 tonne capacity, gritters have been serviced and overhauled and driver training has already begun.

“Checking and refilling of the 1,300 roadside grit bins for which the County Council is responsible has begun this week and deliveries of salt to parish councils are planned for November.”

Reports have suggested the winter will be the coldest in 50 years due to the ‘El Nino’ effect.

El Nino is the name given to describe an upwelling of warmer than average water in the Equatorial Pacific which is known to disrupt climate patterns around the world.

Councillor Kevin Greaves, chairman of the transport and highways committee, said: “Like most people we keep our fingers crossed and hope that the coming winter won’t be too severe, but we have to be realistic and plan for the worst.”