Cornwall’s Newly Named Gritting Fleet Commences Winter Operations

The gritting lorries in Cornwall, now bearing new names, have commenced their initial salt-spreading operation for the current year. During the previous year, local council officials invited the public to submit Cornwall-themed names for these vehicles. Among the most popular proposals were RNAS Cold Nose, which references the Royal Navy base at Culdrose; Choughed to Grits; Salty McSaltash; and Gritchard Trevithick. As temperatures decline, the gritting vehicles have deployed across Cornwall’s 25 designated salting routes, covering an approximate distance of 870 miles (1,400 km). In the preceding year, these gritters, managed by the contractor Cormac for Cornwall Council, treated over 34,500 miles (55,500km) of roads throughout Cornwall across numerous deployments. Approximately 15,000 tonnes of salt have been accumulated and are prepared for deployment during the upcoming winter season. In anticipation of the approaching winter, personnel have also been replenishing over 700 grit bins, which are overseen by town and parish councils, for salting footpaths and roads not included in the Council’s primary salting network. The principal trunk roads in Cornwall, specifically the A30 and the A38, fall under the jurisdiction of National Highways. Steve Bayley, who serves as Cormac’s highways network manager, stated: “You may not see the gritters, but, if the weather forecast indicates sub-zero temperatures, the gritters will be out, usually in the early hours of the morning. ” The gritter fleet in Cornwall comprises 25 lorries (with three held in standby), all of which now bear names proposed by members of the public: For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.