4. Policy on Treatment Priorities
4.1 Carriageway treatment
Prior to the commencement of each winter the Assistant Network and Standards Manager will produce carriageway gritting routes based generally on the following principles:-
Priority 1 - Strategic high speed, main traffic routes
- Lomond - A814 Dumbarton- Garelochhead
- A818 Arden (A82) - Helensburgh
- Cowal - A815 Cairndow – Dunoon Ferry
- Lorn / Mid-Argyll - A816 Oban - Lochgilphead, A819 Dalmally – Inveraray
| 04:00 - 08:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 16:00 - 22:00 | 22:00 - 04:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon - Sat | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Reactive as reported conditions dictate |
| Sun & PH | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Reactive as reported conditions dictate |
Priority 2
Other “A” and “B” classified roads, except where treatment is categorised under Priority 3 bus routes, or less.
- A814 Garelochhead –Arrochar
- A817 Haul Road
- B833 Rosneath Peninsula
- A815 Dunoon-Toward, A880 to Ardentinny
- A885 Sandbank
- A886 Strachur– Colintraive
- A8003 Tighnabruaich, A844 / A845 & A886 on Bute
- A846 / A847 on Islay
- A846 on Jura
- A848 / A849 on Mull
- A884 & B8073 Tobermory – Dervaig
- B828 / B839 to Lochgoilhead
- B842 Southend – Carradale
- B843 to Machrihanish
- B844 / B8003 to Easdale & Cuan
- B8001 Skipness
- B8024 Kilberry Loop
- B841 / B8025 Achnamara & Tayvallich
Plus Principal Accident and Emergency routes or roads to hospitals and routes to Police stations, Fire stations and Ambulance depot accesses and other selected streets in main urban areas e.g. steep hills, etc where route efficiency permits.
| 06:00 - 08:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 16:00 - 22:00 | 22:00 - 06:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon - Sat |
Pre-treat as required + reactive |
Pre-treat in advance (if possible) + reactive | Reactive as reported conditions dictate | Reactive - only in extreme conditions |
| Sun & PH |
Pre-treat as required + reactive |
Pre-treat in advance (if possible) + reactive | Reactive as reported conditions dictate | Reactive - only in extreme conditions |
Priority 3
Any section of public road, outwith P1 & P2 above, subject to :-
- Main Public Service bus routes as timetables require that can be met within operational time bands.
- Should it be impractical to cover a Service then the operator must be notified or Main School Bus routes prior to or during term days only.
| 06:00 - 08:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 16:00 - 22:00 | 22:00 - 06:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon - Sat | Pre-treat as required + reactive | Pre-treat in advance (is possible) + reactive | No treatment unless stable conditions forecast a.m. | No treatment |
Weekends - Pre-treat in advance of journey, if possible, but no guarantee. Timetabled days only.
| 06:00 - 08:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 16:00 - 22:00 | 22:00 - 06:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon - Sat |
Pre-treat as required + reactive |
Pre-treat in advance + reactive |
No treatment unless stable conditions forecast a.m. (Not Friday p.m.) | No Treatment |
No treatments out-with School Term days (apart from Sunday evenings in advance, if stable conditions forecast Monday a.m.)
Priority 4
All other public roads. Only as actual conditions dictate and resources are deemed to be effective.
| 06:00 - 08:00 | 08:00 - 16:00 | 16:00 - 22:00 | 22:00 - 06:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon - Sat | No Treatment | Reactive (may include pre-treat) | Reactive – only in extreme conditions | No Treatment |
| W/E & PH | No Treatment | Reactive – only in extreme conditions | No Treatment | No Treatment |
The above route priorities are set around the requirements to pre-treat in advance of freezing conditions or react to developed hazards within a reasonably practicable timescale within the confines of the resources available. Under standard conditions, pre-treatment routes are designed to be completed within 3 hours of mobilisation.
Where hazards re-occur after treatment or in conditions where instantaneous hazards occur, resources may be required to concentrate on re-application of several treatments prior to moving on. In such circumstances the highest priority routes, experiencing such conditions, will generally be treated first and resources will only be released to other priorities once it is determined that treatments have an expectation of remaining effective.
4.2 Footway and Footpath Priorities
At the start of each winter, the Assistant Network and Standards Manager will produce footway and footpath treatment routes based generally on the following principle.
Footways and footpaths will only be treated, in periods of lasting hazards, when the Duty Manager, in consultation with Area staff, considers that their physical condition makes it necessary and treatments will be effective. They will usually only be treated during normal working hours.
- Priority 1 - Urban Shopping Areas and Precincts
- Priority 2 - Other areas of high pedestrian concentration, e.g. in the vicinity of hospitals and schools.
- Priority 3 - Steep hills in housing developments and in the vicinity of residential homes for the elderly.
4.3 Resources
Labour
To ensure that an adequate labour resource is available to allow treatment to be carried out, arrangements are in place with Amenity Services section to participate in the supply of additional labour when conditions require.
Plant
Plant to assist with the clearance of snow and spreading of salt has been provided by Road and Infrastructure Services. Attachments to mowers to allow footpath ploughing will be fitted at the start of each season, where practicable. Footway salt spreading barrows are provided for use by available labour when required.
4.4 Cycleways
Only cycleways contiguous with roads and footways will be treated in conjunction with any planned treatments.
