Latest news with #gritters
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Council deploys fleet of vehicles we only usually see in winter - here's why...
Drivers in the Central Bedfordshire region may have been held up on journeys in the last few days by a seasonally unusual sight... The council confirmed that it has deployed its fleet of road gritters this week, which are typically locked away at this time of year awaiting winter duties to clear busy routes of snow and ice. But they've been sent out in July as part of efforts to protect roads from damage caused by this week's intense heat. Bedfordshire has seen temperatures peak at 31C (87.8F) over recent four-day heatwave. This was some way short of the highest experienced across the country, with St James's Park in London registered 34.7C (94.4F) on Tuesday, while parts of Essex and Kent also topped 33C. Central Bedfordshire Council explained to followers on Facebook that its gritters were needed to ensure road surfaces remained safe for traffic during the sweltering conditions. Central Bedfordshire Council this week took the unconventional decision to deploy its fleet of gritters to help protect road surfaces during the heatwave In the post on Monday, it told its social media followers: 'Some parts of Central Bedfordshire are experiencing very high road surface temperatures. 'When this happens, tarmac can begin to soften, which may lead to surface damage. 'To prevent this, we're sending out gritters to spread a fine layer of crushed stone. 'This helps protect the road surface and provides extra grip for vehicles. 'You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions.' Central Bedfordshire Council's area includes several towns and a mix of smaller villages. The larger towns include Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Biggleswade, Ampthill, Sandy, Shefford, and Stotfold. Locals took to the comments on the post to respond to the surprising announcement. One said: 'As long as they don't drive too fast when grit-spreading (naturally those chipped windscreens).' Another posted: '[I] see gritters out in Spain and Portugal all the time. I'm surprised we can get hold of any gritters as they're normally all in demand in Dubai.' One of its followers simply said: 'Maybe the roads will melt into the potholes!' The Road Surface Treatments Association says roads are at risk of melting when surface temperatures reach 50C. These surface temperature levels are easily achieved during heatwaves, with prolonged periods of intense sunshine absorbed into the tarmac. Even when conditions drop into the low 20s towards the evening and overnight, road surface temperatures take far longer to cool. Forecasters warned earlier this week that it would be highly likely that road surfaces across Britain would exceed 50C. Central Bedfordshire Councils also said this week that its waste collection crews would be working at earlier times to avoid soaring temperatures experienced by mid to late morning.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Snow gritters dispatched to stop roads from melting in sweltering heatwave
Gritters normally used to protect drivers in wintry conditions have been deployed in England over concerns this summer's heatwave could cause roads to melt. Central Bedfordshire Council said it is using the gritters to spread crushed stone in a bid to preserve the county's road surfaces. 'Some parts of Central Bedfordshire are experiencing very high road surface temperatures,' the local authority said in a post on Facebook. 'When this happens, tarmac can begin to soften, which may lead to surface damage.' When temperatures rise into the mid-30Cs, road surfaces can heat up to as high as 50C in the sunlight. Road surfaces, typically made from asphalt, can begin to melt at around this temperature, according to the Road Surface Treatments Association. They can melt even when the air temperature drops to 20C at the end of the day, as road surfaces absorb heat over the course of the day. Concerns over the road conditions come as the UK faced the hottest June on record. Other parts of Europe are also facing heatwaves, with soaring temperatures exacerbated by a heat dome. Amber alerts are now in place across several areas of England, indicating health and social care services are likely to be significantly impacted because of the heat. 'We're sending out gritters to spread a fine layer of crushed stone. This helps protect the road surface and provides extra grip for vehicles,' the council added. 'You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Brits to see GRITTERS out on roads for surprising reason this week – despite basking in balmy highs of 34C
FOLLOWING another gloriously hot weekend, Brits might be shocked to see gritters returning to the roads. With temperatures reaching 34C today, the country has been basking in record-setting temperatures. 5 5 However, parts of the UK can expect to see gritters on the streets during the week. While typically associated with snowy weather, this time the gritters are helping to maintain roads during the summer season. Central Bedfordshire Council announced today that they would be sending gritters out during the hot weather. This can help to protect roads from surface damage caused by very high road surface temperatures. Rather than depositing salt on the road, which helps with snow and ice, these gritters will be spreading a fine layer of crushed stone. It can help to protect the road surface, while providing extra grip for vehicles. In an announcement on X, the council wrote: "Some parts of Central Bedfordshire are experiencing very high road surface temperatures. "When this happens, tarmac can begin to soften which may lead to surface damage. They added: "You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions." Earlier this month, Devon County Council employed a similar tactic to protect its roads. Scots flock to park & beaches to bask in sizzling temperatures A spokesperson for the council told the Mid-Devon Advertiser: "Following the warm weather this week, with road surface temperatures surpassing 50C, as a precautionary measure some of our newer road surfaces will receive a dusting down treatment this weekend. "Please don't be alarmed if you see our gritters out on the network." It comes after a particularly warm weekend that saw Brits out and about enjoying the sunshine. The Met Office said that some parts of the UK could reach 34C this afternoon - which could be Wimbledon's hottest opening day ever. It could break the record set in 2001 of 29.3C, Temperatures are set to stay high in some locations during a "tropical night" of above 20C. The scorching weather is set to continue into tomorrow, with highs of 35C predicted. Writing on social media, the forecaster said: "Tuesday will be another hot day, though the highest temperatures will be more confined to the south east of England where 35C is possible." It comes as hundreds of thousands of Glastonbury revellers have started returning home to make the most of the sunshine. Britain is expected to be hotter than holiday hotspots like Ibiza, where highs of 29C are forecast. The heat could cause issues for commuters, with Network Rail, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express advising passengers to check before they travel today and tomorrow. Sections of the Brighton Main Line in particular could see delays due to speed restrictions being in place. This is due to the on track temperatures likely to hit 50C. UK 5 day weather forecast Today: Sunny and hot with light winds for England and Wales with isolated heavy showers possible in the afternoon, particularly in northern and eastern England. Cooler and fresher in the northwest with a band of locally heavy rain gradually moving east. Tonight: Rain clearing Scotland, but cloud extending across northern England and Wales, bringing a little drizzle at times. Drier and clearer elsewhere. Very warm and muggy in the south and southeast. Tuesday: Hot and muggy in the southeast with the odd heavy shower possible. Bright and fresh in the northwest. Elsewhere, rather cloudy with patchy light rain or drizzle over the hills. Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: Fresher for all, with cloudier skies bringing spells of rain, these sometimes heavy on Wednesday and Friday, but some drier, brighter intervals as well. Temperatures near or slightly above average. 5 5 5
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Gritters used in Bedfordshire to protect roads from heatwave
Gritters have been dispatched to protect roads from damage caused by the summer is expected to be one of the hottest parts of the country, potentially reaching 34C (93.2F), as as a nation-wide heatwave reaches its fourth a Facebook post, Central Bedfordshire Council explained that heat can cause tarmac to soften making roads more susceptible to surface was hoped gritting lorries could spread a fine layer of crushed stone that would protect tarmac and provide more grip for cars. The authority wrote: "You might not expect to see gritters in summer, but it's an important part of looking after our roads during extreme weather conditions."An amber alert has been issued for the East of England by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), due to the high means the heat could cause conditions that affect demands on the NHS and potentially cause travel warning is due to remain in place until Wednesday this period the council also said waste collection crews would work earlier in the morning to avoid the heat, it advised residents to leave their bins out the night before. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
