The council is gearing up plans to ensure Croydon is ready for winter weather.
While it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen over the months ahead, the council has taken a number of actions to help residents travel safely through the borough.
The gritting fleet is in place, comprising of eight low-emission vehicles, which are fitted with tracking systems, allowing the team to divert the nearest resources to areas where urgent, ad-hoc gritting action may be required – such as a burst water pipe.
Croydon’s 578 salt bins are being topped up by the council’s contractor, who ensures that the bins are at least two-thirds full throughout the season. Winter footway gritting operations operate on a priority system.
The council’s salt barn has been fully stocked with approximately 5500 tonnes of salt (enough to grit from London to Christchurch, New Zealand and back), with plans in place to receive more salt from suppliers at short notice.
Learn more about gritting and salt on the council website.
Being aware on the roads is especially important during the winter months. As daylight hours decrease, drivers should take extra care to watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users, and remember to follow speed limits.
We have already seen heavy rainfall, and there is always a risk for more. The council has approximately 400 sandbags ready to be deployed, with a further 1,000 that can be filled at short notice should there be flooding.
Falling leaves can lead to blocked gullies, and we have increased our street cleansing operations to clear them. Across the borough, the council also routinely cleanses gullies using high pressure machinery, on a rotational and needs basis.
If residents see a gully in need of cleansing, they are encouraged to contact our resilience department at 020 8726 6000 or via the council’s online reporting site.
