UK braced for fresh icy blasts as road gritting cut

Britain is bracing itself for icy blasts as the freezing weather looks set to continue over the weekend.


The forecast came as the government stepped in to conserve road-gritting stocks due to dwindling salt supplies.

The Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, said local authorities had agreed to cut salt use by 25%.

The Conservatives have said that the government's move is "an admission of utter failure" and plans should have been made earlier.

As temperatures remained at sub-zero levels, at least 24 people are believed to have died since before Christmas in weather-related incidents.

The latest are two brothers who died in hospital in Leicester after falling through the ice at Watermead Country Park.

Police say members of the public used ropes in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the brothers.

Forecasters say it will feel colder overnight because of an "increased wind chill" coming from Germany and Poland.

Up to 20cm (7.8in) of snow is forecast for parts of South Yorkshire and the south of London - from Essex to Brighton.

Lord Adonis announced the salt cut decision following a meeting of the "Salt Cell" - a body made up of ministers, the Highways Agency and local authorities.

Supplies of salt have been close to running out in some areas, with many councils restricting gritting to major roads.

The government has ordered salt from abroad but this is not due to arrive until 21 January.

Shadow local government and communities secretary Caroline Spelman told BBC Radio 5 live the government had failed to listen to a warning report by councils published last year on the matter.

However Lord Adonis rejected these claims.

Forecasters have warned that the freezing conditions could last at least another week.

Local authorities have, in many cases. let the residents down.

I heard a lady councillor on TV the other day bleating that it wasn't their fault as they had ordered grit, but it hadn't been delivered.

Absolute tosh! The local authorities are totally responsible and if they can't plan ahead a little they have no right to the job.

Interesting blog here http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/janet ... ough-grit/