Cambridgeshire gears up to keep residents safe and moving this winter

As the colder months arrive, Cambridgeshire County Council is working hard to keep residents safe, supported, and moving.

Feedback from the Council’s recent Quality of Life survey highlighted that roads and transport remain among residents’ top concerns. In response, preparations have been made early to ensure roads, paths, and cycleways are ready for winter conditions.

The county’s winter service fleet of 38 gritters and two quad bikes is on standby, supported by four fully stocked salt barns holding 12,000 tonnes of rock salt and replenished grit bins available across communities.

Preparation for winter is a year-round task. Between April and October, the Council and its partners treat road and footpath surfaces to prevent them deteriorating, ensuring they are safer and smoother for residents once colder weather sets in.

Alongside proactive maintenance, crews carry out reactive repairs, adverse weather works, and emergency callouts. From pothole repairs and gritting, to salt stockpiles and routine checks, this work helps keep journeys reliable for work, school, and everyday life.

Between 1 November and 15 April, forecasts are monitored daily using roadside sensors to predict frost and ice. Based on these forecasts, salt treatments are applied to main routes before conditions become hazardous. Last winter, gritting crews were called out 48 times, often working through the night and into the early hours to keep residents moving safely. This work is supported by a valuable network of local volunteers who help clear pavements and footpaths for pedestrians.

The Council also maintains more than 110,000 drains across Cambridgeshire, with teams working year-round to clear and repair them, reducing the risk of flooding. New adverse weather compounds have also been established at depots, ensuring teams have quick access to the equipment needed to respond rapidly to winter hazards.

Cllr Robin Wyatt, Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee, said: “We know how important it is for residents to feel safe and supported during the winter months. Our crews and volunteers work tirelessly to keep roads, cycleways, and paths clear, so that whether you’re driving, cycling, or walking, you can feel confident in your journey. Keep an eye out for our gritters as they practice their dry runs at the end of October. This is all part of our commitment to building a greener, fairer, and more caring Cambridgeshire.”

Together, these preparations support safer, more sustainable travel and ensure every community, rural or urban, feels prepared and cared for this winter. Whatever the season brings, we’re working for you.

To find out more about gritting across Cambridgeshire, head to our website: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/roads-and-pathways/gritting-roads-cycleways-and-paths

Watch our short video from Cllr Alex Beckett, Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee and Cllr Robin Wyatt, Vice-Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee.