Dorset Council grits 23 main routes once roads are forecast below 0.5°C. It has stocked more than 12,000 tonnes of salt, and a live map shows which roads are done.

Dorset Council has stocked more than 12,000 tonnes of salt for the coming winter. Its gritting crews are now on standby around the clock.

Gritters go out when road temperatures are forecast to fall below the council’s threshold of 0.5°C. More than 50 highways staff are ready to leave depots across the county. The council set out its winter plans on 11 November.

Which roads get gritted

The council’s winter network has two tiers:

  • 23 primary routes, covering more than 1,000 kilometres of A and B roads. These link the main towns and villages with hospitals, schools and other key services.
  • 10 community link routes serving smaller villages and hamlets. These are treated only during prolonged cold spells or when snow is forecast.

The council decides each day whether to salt individual routes or the whole network, based on forecasts for each route.

The A31 and the A35 west of Bere Regis are trunk roads, and the council’s gritting page says it does not grit them. National Highways is responsible for those.

How to check whether your road has been done

The same page carries a live gritting map, updated every 15 minutes. It shows routes being treated now, routes due for treatment soon and routes treated in the last seven days. The council also posts gritting decisions on its WhatsApp channel and on @TravelDorset.

Salt bins

Roadside salt bins are being refilled now, ahead of winter. The council’s salt bin page explains that bins come in two kinds:

Bin type Who pays for refills When it is refilled
Strategic Dorset Council, free of charge During the winter
Community The town or parish council On request

In severe weather, further refills happen “as time and resources allow”. The council says it is up to town and parish councils to order refills in good time. Residents can ask for a bin to be refilled through the same page.

The council does not supply new salt bins. A parish that wants one is advised on buying and placing it by its community highways officer.

What it means for you

Salt cuts the risk of ice on treated roads but does not remove it. The council warns that icy patches can still form in extreme weather or during heavy rain.

Before a cold-morning journey, it suggests you:

  • check the forecast
  • allow extra time
  • make sure your car is ready for winter

If you live on a lane that is not on a gritting route, the nearest salt bin is the main help on offer. Ask your parish or town council if it is empty.

Cllr Jack Jeanes, the council’s Cabinet Member for Place Services, said: “Our priority is keeping Dorset moving safely throughout the winter.” He said the same teams also deal with flooding, fallen trees and road collisions over the winter months.