Gritter lorries and snow ploughs at the ready as staff gear up to treat more than 2,000 miles of roads in Shropshire

Temperatures plummeted to around -4C overnight with more icy conditions, and even snow, forecast over the next few days.

The Met Office now has issued an upgraded amber weather warning for snow and ice for the county, which is in force from 6pm on Saturday to midday on Sunday.

Shropshire Council and its highways maintenance provider, Kier, have 28 gritters – along with nine footway ploughs, and nine snow blowers – ready to treat a primary gritting network of 2,561km (1591 miles) – plus a secondary network of 1,184km (735 miles).

The fleet also includes a number of new mini gritters, with crews on standby to treat town centre roads, pavements and car parks.

The gritters are owned by Shropshire Council and located at the council’s highways depots in Shrewsbury, Craven Arms and Whittington.

The council also maintains 850 local salt bins during the winter, and people can use salt from their local salt bins to treat pavements and roads.

In addition, many contractors and farmers have snow-clearing equipment and the council’s divisional officers deploy this supplementary equipment following heavy snowfall in rural areas.

Ian McLellan, general manager at Kier Transportation, said: “We have 19 weather stations in place across the network, providing prompt updates to our teams to ensure a swift response to changing conditions so that we’re ready, whatever the weather.

“We are committed to providing the county’s road users with the best possible experience and are proud that our partnership with Shropshire Council is providing real benefits to the people of Shropshire.”

More information about Shropshire Council’s gritting plans can be found here.

Meanwhile, Telford & Wrekin Council’s gritting team will be out again tonight (Friday) and ensuring its 700 grit bins are full and topping up as needed.

The authority says 400km of roads and footpaths will be gritted in the borough during the latest cold snap. 

Councillor Richard Overton, deputy leader and cabinet member for highways, housing and enforcement, said:  “Our experienced teams are on standby to respond to the latest weather warning and we thank them for their dedication and support to ensure our roads are gritted.

 “Residents can find more information about gritting at www.telford.gov.uk/gritting or follow us on Facebook for links helping everyone to stay safe, warm and well during the winter.

“As part of our broader winter preparedness response, over the past few days, we have also been responding to the strong winds and heavy rain that have seen our crews preparing for rising river levels in The Gorge.”