Council responds to criticism over lack of gritting on town’s roads

WARRINGTON Borough Council has responded to criticism over the lack of gritting on the town’s roads during the recent snowy conditions.

Dozens of people posted on Warrington Worldwide’s Facebook page, saying they hadn’t seen any gritters in action, while others reported that primary roads had not been gritted, making driving conditions hazardous.

After being contacted by Warrington Worldwide, a Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We grit primary routes, such as main roads, roads serving high schools or hospitals and fire stations, when road surface temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing and ice is expected. Due to the size of our road network, it’s not possible to treat every road. We therefore prioritise roads and bus routes that form most of our Primary Gritting Routes.
“Duty officers monitor the weather 24 hours a day, and when needed, we deploy a fleet of five gritting vehicles to treat the network across five pre-planned routes before any bad weather.
Rock salt lowers the freezing point of moisture on the road surface, preventing ice from forming and helping existing ice or snow to melt. When it snows heavily at night, snow can still settle on gritted roads, and traffic movement is needed for the salt to work effectively.
“Over the past few days, temperatures across the country and in Warrington have been extremely low. Since 2 January 2026, we have treated primary routes on five occasions, with secondary routes treated on 4 January. Staff are currently gritting outside schools and will provide additional assistance as required to ensure services are maintained across the borough.”
“We urge motorists to take extra care, allow more time for journeys, and be prepared for winter conditions.”
“For tips on staying safe, visit our road safety page.

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