Gritters hit Dartmoor roads as sudden cold snap raises ice risk across Devon

Devon’s road gritters were sent out for the first time this winter on Sunday (16 November) night as temperatures fell close to freezing across high ground on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Devon County Council said its teams began work from 8pm, treating routes where road surface temperatures dropped to zero or below. 

It follows days of heavy rain from Storm Claudia, which has left standing water in some areas and raised the risk of overnight ice.

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A Yellow Cold-Health Alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, is in force for the South West until Saturday, with colder weather expected to continue throughout the week.

The council said it has been preparing for winter for several months, and depots across the county have been stocked with almost 24,000 tonnes of salt, with the gritting fleet being serviced. 

Five of the 37 main gritters have been replaced with newer models, which include touchscreen controls so drivers can adjust salt spreading and plough settings from inside the cab.

Residents on Dartmoor and elsewhere are being asked to help by parking and driving considerately so gritters can get through narrow roads.

Councillor Dan Thomas, Cabinet Member for Highways, said:

“Gritting the roads is a really important part of our highways operations. If the gritters are out, they’re out for a reason… If you happen to be out when they are, please give way to them and please park considerately to allow the gritters to get around your towns and villages.”

Last winter, around 8,000 tonnes of salt were spread on Devon’s roads, 1,800 tonnes more than the previous year, but still below the usual average of 13,000 tonnes.

ABOVE: Councillor Dan Thomas with Devon Highways staff (Credit: DCC)

Simon Kane, Contract Manager for Devon Highways, said:

“The gritter drivers deserve a huge amount of credit… More often than not, they're driving in the worst conditions in the depths of night to get the roads ready for the travelling public.”

He also asked people not to block narrow rural roads: “If our drivers can't get past it holds up the service and delays treatment of the network.”

Devon’s Network Operations Control Centre in Exeter monitors the county’s 8,000-mile road network around the clock, using CCTV, weather data and information from 38 ice-detection stations. Another 20 weather sensors help decide when roads need treatment.

About 14 miles of Exeter’s busiest cycle routes will also be gritted again this winter.

The county’s 325 volunteer snow wardens remain on standby to help communities that are not on the main gritting routes, including those in remote parts of Dartmoor. 

More than 3,500 grit bins are available for public use, and empty bins can be reported online.

Information on winter travel, the snow warden scheme and live updates can be found on Devon County Council’s website and on its Devon Alert social media accounts.