Kirklees Council in plea for volunteers as winter blast hits borough

Kirklees Council says its gritting crews will be operating as usual even though more people are working from home than ever before.

The council has 77 gritter drivers and support workers ready to keep the roads safe when temperatures plunge.

The council has 25,000 tonnes of grit - enough to salt 40 billion bags of crisps! The team will be out from 4am, keeping main roads clear for key workers, emergency services and those that need them.

But the council says it couldn’t do it without its 170 Winter Volunteers who help keep streets and pavements ice-free across the whole of Kirklees.

There are 34 community volunteer groups across Kirklees and anyone who wants to join one – or set up one of their own – should contact their local councillor.

The council is reminding people there are 1,450 grits bins across the district but the grit is only for public roads and pavements, not private property.

Councillor Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Culture and Environment, said: “This year more than ever, we’re grateful for the part our Winter Volunteers play in the local community.

“We’re really lucky to have around 170 volunteers who brave the cold to help to keep paths and smaller local roads clear.

“We also have around 20 farmers who volunteer via the National Farmers Union and grit lots of rural roads.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to all of our key workers and volunteers.”