Gritting programme gets under way across West Northamptonshire

05 November 2026

West Northamptonshire Council's winter gritting programme is now under way, helping keep key routes across the area safe and moving during colder weather.

The annual programme started on 1 November and will continue into mid-April, with teams monitoring forecasts around the clock and carrying out precautionary treatments whenever freezing conditions are expected.

This winter, 12 gritters will be travelling across the highway network, treating the roads with around 5,500 tonnes of salt stored at our highways depots in Brixworth and Towcester. The Council also maintains 898 grit bins across West Northamptonshire for community use during severe weather. 

The precautionary salting network covers more than 1,100 kilometres of road which, if laid out in a straight line, would reach Marseille in the south of France or Prague in the Czech Republic.

Our gritting fleet will focus on the busiest routes and those that connect communities, schools, hospitals and key services, while additional routes can be treated during prolonged freezing conditions or when snow is forecast. Motorways and trunk roads are maintained separately by National Highways.

Councillor Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "Although the weather has remained relatively mild so far, our winter service is now up and running and ready to respond whenever conditions require it.

"Keeping people moving safely during the winter months is a key priority. Our teams closely monitor weather forecasts and road temperatures so they can take action before ice forms on the network.

"We encourage residents to take extra care when travelling during cold weather, allow more time for journeys and check forecasts before setting off."

Residents are reminded that not every road can be treated and should always drive according to the prevailing conditions, even when gritting has taken place. 

Further details on gritting routes, winter travel advice and other seasonal arrangements can be found on the council’s highways pages. If your local grit bin is damaged or needs to be refilled, you can also raise a report.