West Northamptonshire’s gritting fleet on the move

20 November 2025

West Northamptonshire’s gritting crews are now out and about helping to keep the area’s roads safe this winter.

With colder conditions closing in, we’re working with our highways partner Kier Transportation, to cover more than 1,100 km of priority routes across the network.

To support this, we’ve stockpiled more than 5,000 tonnes of salt and prepared 885 grit bins for community use.

Our fleet of 12 specialist gritters is fully serviced and on standby, ready to respond whenever conditions demand.

Keeping our roads safe during winter is a top priority. We’ve worked closely with Kier to ensure our gritting fleet is fully prepared and crews are on standby 24/7.

While gritting helps reduce ice, it doesn’t eliminate risk entirely, so we urge drivers to take extra care and adapt their driving to the conditions. Residents can also play their part by reporting any road defects or empty grit bins via our website.Cllr Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

WNC uses route-based forecasting, with gritting triggered when road temperatures are predicted to fall below 0.5°C, based on data from weather stations and sensors across the network.

Supporting West Northamptonshire in keeping the road network safe throughout the winter months is a key priority.

Our teams and specialist gritting fleet are prepared to respond around the clock, using advanced forecasting and treatment methods to help reduce the risk of ice.

We encourage all road users to drive with extra care during severe conditions and follow safety advice when travelling near gritters.Kier General Manager, Allan Rigby

Residents can help by following these safety tips:

• Never tailgate gritters – leave a sensible distance
• Pass carefully and only when safe
• Reduce speed and adapt driving in severe conditions
• Report empty grit bins or road defects

Find out more about gritting routes and other winter service information.