Although we have already broken the news, we thought you would be interested to see their take on it. Ed
The road between Niton and Rookley has been reinstated in the winter maintenance gritting route. This road has not been routinely gritted since the winter of 2009/10 as part of an approach to help manage salt reserves and focus our resources on maintaining the major strategic routes.
However the relatively mild winter to date has meant that salt stocks have not been called on as heavily as had been anticipated which has allowed the council – following local representations – to reinstate the route for the remainder of the winter.
Undercliff Drive and the Military Road
Under the highways PFI contract the scope of the network to be gritted will be increased to the pre 2009/10 levels meaning that both this and a number of other routes including Undercliff Drive and the Military Road will also be reinstated in the winter maintenance programme in future years
While the current gritting programme is appropriate, the council is pleased to be able to provide this enhanced level of service and therefore a greater choice of routes around the Island for road users.
Motorists should however continue to take extra care when driving on all routes – including treated surfaces – in icy conditions.
Image: © Marcus Matthews
