With snow forecast in the city overnight, and further showers until Friday, council gritters will be out in force, treating all the main highways.
 
Street cleaners are being diverted to pre-grit pavements and gritting bins are being refilled for residents to use.
 
Council staff are paying particular attention to gritting pavements on hilltops, outside hospitals and shop fronts.
 
Four wheel drive vehicles will also be made available to ensure home care teams and Meals on Wheels are able to visit vulnerable people.
 
Council leader Mary Mears said:
“We are preparing as much as we can. The council has six gritter vehicles for salting the roads, four snow ploughs and a team of drivers on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the winter months.
 
“Full gritting routes across the city cover 156 miles, taking in every bus route in Brighton & Hove and there are 350 salt bins on pavements. We are listening to residents and responding.”
 
In preparation, the council has around 400 tonnes of salt stored at Hollingdean depot. This would cope with almost three weeks of continuous heavy frosts. There is another 500 tonnes of salt on order.
 
In the event of snow and ice tomorrow the council is prepared to place piles of grit at strategic locations using street cleaning and gardening staff.
 
However, drivers and pedestrians should remain vigilant and take care during the cold snap as it is not possible to grit all 3,000 of the city’s roads. Even a high level of gritting service on roads and pavements that can be treated cannot guarantee they will always be completely clear of ice or snow.

This can be for various reasons, including the time it takes for salt to become effective; salt being washed away if rain turns to snow and water leaks on roads that turn to ice in below zero temperatures.

Drivers and pedestrians should be especially cautious when road frosts or freezing temperatures follow rain or snow.

The council’s adult social care helpline is available for elderly and vulnerable people on 01273 295555 for those having problems getting the services they require or have a non-medical social care emergency.

During out-of-office hours call the Emergency Duty Line on 07699 391462.

For more information visit:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/snow