Local Authorities have a statutory duty to salt the highways under Section 41 (1A) of the Highways Act 1980.
“(1A) In particular, a highway authority are under a duty to ensure, so as far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.”
Maintenance plan
Every year we review our Winter Maintenace Plan which consists of our strategy to lay salt on the boroughs roads and footways. Copies of our Winter Maintenance Plan can be obtained by contacting us on the details below or downloaded here.
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Scope of plan
The scope of Winter Maintenance operations can be described as follows:
- Precautionary gritting of roads in anticipation of freezing conditions to prevent the formation of ice
- Continuous gritting of major roads in adverse conditions to enable continued safe usage
- Gritting of footways and footpaths
Priorities
Carriageway
Major roads
All major traffic and bus routes
Accesses to fire stations, police stations, hospitals & ambulance stations
All steep hills
Borough roads
Other through routes and hills
Minor roads
The remainder of the road network
Footway
High pedestrian use
Shopping areas, bus stations, railway stations, and other high pedestrian use
Borough footways
Footways in small shopping areas
Minor footways
One footway only on main through routes
One footway only on hills and minor through routes
Gritting routes
- Main routes
[813KB] - Hill routes [745KB]
Maps reproduced by kind permission of G.I. Barnett & Son Ltd
Salt bins
The Council provides salt bins at strategic locations throughout the borough. We cannot place them everywhere but do try to put them where they are most needed, such as hills. Although we check the bins they do, during cold spells, need refilling at times. If you notice a salt bin needs refilling please call 020 8496 3000. A list of sites can be found in our winter maintenance plan.
Gritting salt
Want to know more?
If you would like to know more about our winter maintenance plan please contact us using the details below.
Contact us
Public RealmEnvironment and Regeneration
Low Hall
Argall Avenue
London E10 7AS
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
