More Wyre Forest roads to be gritted

An extra 20 miles of roads around Wyre Forest district will be gritted this year to avoid problems caused during last winter's cold snap.

Six roads have been added to the list of priority areas in Kidderminster, Stourport, Hartlebury and Waresley by Worcestershire County Council.

Sections of roads around fire stations, police stations and hospitals will also be gritted.

Gritting trucks have also been fitted with new equipment to make the spreading process more efficient.

The council will launch its gritting season tonight with the 31-strong fleet ready to take to the streets if temperatures fall.

The season lasts until March and gritters will on permanent standby.

And after last year's cold snap, the worst in 35 years, the authority has taken extra measures to keep roads around the area clear.

Roads in the Wyre Forest district added to the list are Winchcombe Drive, the road through Hoo Farm Industrial estate, Kidderminster, and Sandy Lane Industrial estate, in Stourport.

The access road to the Astley School, from the B4196, in Stourport, has also been included along with Inn Lane, Hartlebury and Waresley Court Road, Waresley.

The authority decided to add these roads following a survey of businesses and residents in the area.

The council said it had 13,000 tonnes of grit available, the maximum which can be stored at one time.

A new spray will replace the traditional method of spreading grit which required a car to run over it.

Cabinet member for transport Councillor Derek Prodger said: "We have learned lessons from the problems experienced last year."