“Ready for Winter: Bromley’s Gritting and Snow Clearance Teams Poised for Action”

Given that road surface temperatures are set to be sub-zero tonight, approximately 200 miles of priority routes will receive salting overnight. Additional gritting and potential snow clearance may occur throughout the weekend, depending on forecasts at that time, with round-the-clock operations always being a part of the council’s winter gritting strategy if warranted. Any accumulated snow is not anticipated to linger for long, and gritting methodologies will adapt as necessary to ongoing conditions, remaining ready for action during the winter period.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett J.P., Executive Councillor for Transport, Highways, and Road Safety, stated, “Our gritting teams have already been active this winter when frost or ice has been anticipated, and as always, they are prepared to respond based on the forecasted weather conditions. While our efforts will assist road users, motorists and cyclists must adjust their driving to align with the current conditions, being ready to handle icy situations, especially on untreated road surfaces. We extend our gratitude to the Snow Friends residents who remain on standby—as council teams cannot be everywhere, and clearing snow from residential roads benefits everyone.”

The council’s objective during adverse weather is to maintain the flow of traffic throughout the borough. To facilitate this, detailed forecasts are utilized to predict when frost, ice, or snow may occur, enabling the council’s gritting and snow clearance teams to respond effectively. However, as treating all 500 miles of roads and over 800 miles of pavements is unfeasible, priority will be given to the main routes.

These priority routes encompass frequently traveled roads, which serve principal bus routes, in addition to access routes for hospitals, police, fire, and ambulance services, including steep inclines. Although snow is not expected currently, should sustained snowfall occur, street cleaning teams will prioritize snow removal for pedestrians in high-footfall areas, reallocating their efforts to clear snow from pavements close to major shopping districts, educational institutions, and transport hubs.

Snow Friends also contribute significantly by focusing on the clearing of local residential streets, enhancing the accessibility of the borough by minimizing snow and ice accumulation. Throughout the season, follow @BromleySnow for updates on Twitter or visit our website at www.bromley.gov.uk/winter.

Ends

Notes to editors:

The A21 and portions of the A232 (West Wickham to Locksbottom) are managed by Transport for London (TfL). Therefore, TfL holds responsibility for gritting these stretches of road, which are part of the Red Route.

For media inquiries, please reach out to Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, at 020 8461 7670 or via email at [email protected].