Winter update 15 January

Footways and schools were treated from 5am this morning due to widespread ice. Secondary Level 1 carriageways were treated from 8am, with remaining resources used to treat some secondary level 2 carriageways in Fauldhouse and Armadale South.
Good progress is also being made in refilling grit bins across West Lothian, with over 2/3 of bins now refilled and the rest due to be refilled by early next week. The 10 strategic salt piles for the public to use on a self-help basis were topped up earlier today. 
Friday's weather forecast is for a cold night with the chance of freezing rain, snow and ice falling on frozen surfaces. 
This can bring particularly difficult driving conditions as rain will quickly wash salt from treated surfaces, allowing widespread ice to form before the roads can be retreated. Anyone who needs to make an essential journey is advised to take extra care.
Milder air coming from the west should see snow turn to rain as temperatures rise on Saturday.
Primary carriageways will be treated tonight but due to the uncertainty around the conditions, council officers will monitor and arrange for the routes to be gritted at the optimal time. Footpath gritting is again planned for 5am tomorrow morning. 

FAQs below:

Q. Where can I collect grit? 
 
A. Salt piles are available to residents on a self-help basis at the following strategic locations: 
• Xcite Centre, McGinley Way, Linlithgow
• Xcite Centre, Church Street, Broxburn
• Livingston North Train Station (South Car Park)
• Livingston South Train Station Car Park
• Xcite Centre, Craigswood, Livingston
• West Calder Business Centre, Dickson Street
• Blackburn Partnership Centre, Ash Grove
• Xcite Centre, Jubilee Road, Whitburn
• Xcite Centre, Torphichen Road, Bathgate
• Xcite Centre, North Street, Armadale

Q. Are you refilling grit bins?

A. Our teams are refilling all public grit bins but we have over 2,500, and it takes time. So far 1,700 grit bins have been replenished and we expect the remaining 800 grit bins to be replenished by early next week. 

If you are using a grit bin, please only take what you need. If you see any commercial businesses taking grit, please let us know. We are aware of several incidents where grit bins have been emptied almost immediately.

The grit from grit bins isn't for private use in your own garden or path. If you are using a grit bin, please only take what you need for the public path and public road outside your home. If you require grit for your own property, please purchase grit or salt from a retailer. 

Q. When I drive behind a gritter, they aren't always spreading grit/salt. Why is that?

A. Each gritter has an allocated route to ensure the network is treated as efficiently as possible. A gritter may be tasked with spreading salt on a route in Livingston therefore doesn't start spreading until it reaches that location. Another reason is that a gritter may have used all its salt and is heading back to the depot for a refill.

Q. If I see a gritter that is not moving, why is that?

A. Drivers need to have a break from driving - it's the law. If one of our gritters hasn't moved in a while, this could be the reason why. Alternatively the vehicle may have broken down and is awaiting recovery.

Q. Why do gritter vehicles spend so much time in and around Bathgate?

A. Our depot is in Bathgate so all gritters need to set off from Bathgate, return to re-fuel, load up with more grit and change drivers. Therefore they are in and out of Bathgate, a lot.

Q. Why aren't you gritting housing estates?

A. The council doesn't have the resources to treat all roads simultaneously therefore we need to prioritise. Housing estates are secondary level 2 routes treated on a reactive basis only during normal working hours. These routes will only be treated when the higher priority routes are deemed to be in a satisfactory condition.

Q. What about railway station car parks and other private car parks?

A. The council don't treat private car parks.

Thank you and stay safe everyone.