#NorfolkWinter is here - as gritters out across the county for the first time tonight

Norfolk's gritting fleet are heading out for the first gritting run of the season tonight as icy weather is forecast. Gritters will be out in all areas of the county at 3pm and then again at 3am. The team will continue to review the latest information and forecasts throughout the winter and deploy the fleet when needed.

For the first time ever, all 58 of Norfolk's gritters will be fitted with brand new, state of the art auto-salting technology. Aided by satellite navigation, it will allow teams to salt the road with limited manual intervention, making the operation more accurate, saving time and reducing waste.

As temperatures drop and icy conditions become more common, Norfolk County Council's annual travel information and safety campaign #NorfolkWinter launches on social media with information and advice to keep people moving around safely this winter however they choose to travel.

The county council's experienced highway team will be keeping a close eye on detailed specialist forecasts and weather sensors across the county that help inform when and where gritting will be taking place throughout the winter.

Updates will be posted to the county council's social media channels to let people know when gritting will be taking place. As well as tips and advice for travelling safely through the winter. Look for the #NorfolkWinter hashtag on Facebook, Nextdoor and X.

People can check which roads are on the council's gritting routes for this season on the map at www.norfolk.gov.uk/gritting. On the same map people can find the locations of around 2000 grit bins in the county that are filled by the County Council and which people can use on public pavements, cycle paths and roads to help everyone get around safely.

Each full 3-hour gritting run in Norfolk sees 2,200 miles of road treated. All A and B-class roads and some C-class roads are treated with a focus on commuter and major bus routes and as far as is possible one route into all villages. The A11 and A47 are gritted by National Highways.

Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: "Norfolk's gritting crews taking to the roads for the first time this season, means that winter is upon us.

"If you're using our roads always drive to the conditions, especially when it's icy, wet or snowy.  We also encourage people to plan ahead and be prepared when travelling on foot or on two wheels and understanding that adverse weather can cause delays on public transport too. Over the coming months, our Norfolk Winter campaign will provide as much useful information and guidance as possible to keep residents up to date and safe, however you choose to travel this winter.

"I'd also like to thank and recognise the team that deliver Norfolk's highway services, working day and night throughout the winter to keep our roads open for people and businesses. We are ambitious for Norfolk and we are well prepared ths winter, with fully stocked salt domes and cutting edge technology installed on all our gritters."

Find more information on our website: www.norfolk.gov.uk/winter