South Ayrshire Council is preparing to make sure that staff from Strathclyde Police, Ambulance Service, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, RNLI, Coastguard and the Council, who all deliver essential services to communities in South Ayrshire, remain mobile on the road during the winter.

Staff from the Council's Environment and Infrastructure Department have already identified winter maintenance routes, topped up road salt supplies, and ensured that the gritters and their crews are ready for action. Specialist Council staff are on standby 24 hours a day during the winter months, and will attend wherever they are most needed.

The Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill said: "It is important that staff from agencies that provide vital services to the people of South Ayrshire, can go about their business as usual during the winter months. That is why Council crews give priority to main roads, main bus routes, and access roads to a range of locations such as hospitals and fire stations. Other roads are treated in order of priority with crews being directed to them as and when resources are available.

"However, it should be made clear that the Scottish Government is responsible for the A77 and A78 trunk roads within South Ayrshire, and Amey Highways maintain them on their behalf.

"Especially during the winter drivers should reduce their speed and think about the weather conditions, as stopping distances are much reduced in adverse weather conditions. Hopefully there will fewer road crashes in South Ayrshire this year."

This year a local Ayr company, J C Peacock Ltd, will be running a trial in Ayr town centre and treating footways with a brine solution instead of the usual rock salt. The Council is not making any payment for this service, as the company see it as part of their continuing research programme. The company has been given permission by the Council to use their product in Ayr town centre, which it is hoped will cause less mess in the streets.

Any resident in South Ayrshire can obtain small amounts of road salt free of charge from the Council depots at Meadowhead, Coylton and Grangestone Industrial Estate, Girvan. There are plentiful stocks of road salt kept in the depots with 3,000 tonnes stored in the salt barn in Coylton, and 2,000 tonnes at the store in Girvan.

The depots are open between 10 am and 4 pm Monday to Thursday and 10 am to 3 pm on Friday. Outside these hours members of the public can obtain small quantities of road salt from the bins situated outside the depots, but must take along a suitable container and make their own transport arrangements.

To further assist members of the public during the winter a number of road salt bins are placed throughout South Ayrshire. Anyone can take a small amount should they require it for gritting.

Already this year meteorologists have forecast a very cold winter, so it is even more important that this year motorists are not caught unprepared when the first cold snap arrives. With a little planning this can be avoided, drivers should:

• Listen to weather forecasts
• Plan all journeys and allow extra travelling time
• Ensure there is plenty of fuel in the vehicle
• Check the windscreen washer bottle is full and it contains screen wash
• Check tyre pressure and tyre tread depth
• Check oil levels
• Wash car lights regularly to remove snow or salt
• Think about replacing old car batteries
• Carry spare bulbs
• Clear all car windows of frost or snow BEFORE driving off

The following contact details will be particularly useful during the winter months:

• For more information on winter driving log on to the Council's website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/council/transport.htm or contact staff on 01292 612302.

• The Scottish Government has appointed Amey Highways Ltd to carry out all trunk road maintenance, including winter maintenance, on the A77 and A78 trunk roads in South Ayrshire, their contact number is free phone 0800 085 7136.

November 2005