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Winter Maintenance and Gritting Services
Professional gritting services with 24/7 response, GPS-tracked proof of service, and fixed-fee certainty. No accidents, no liability claims, no excuses when severe weather hits.
Winter gritting for councils, businesses, and facility operators who can't afford weather-related shutdowns
When temperatures drop below freezing, you’re facing three simultaneous problems.
Legal liability under the Highways Act 1980 or Occupiers’ Liability Act if someone gets hurt on untreated surfaces. Operational chaos when staff can’t access your site safely. Infrastructure damage when freeze-thaw cycles tear your road network apart, adding to that £12-14 billion UK pothole backlog.
Keep your network safe and accessible through winter weather with our winter maintenance and gritting services
You need certainty that roads get treated before ice forms, not hours after accidents happen. Twenty-four-hour weather monitoring. Proven response protocols. Documented proof every route was gritted when it should’ve been.
We deliver this across the South West, South Wales, and the Thames Valley – regions where rapid weather changes from Atlantic systems demand local knowledge, not generic national forecasts. Precautionary treatments through to emergency snow clearance with full GPS documentation.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why winter weather destroys budgets and creates legal nightmares
The conditions that form when roads aren't treated
There's a better way to manage winter risk...
Networks protected with certainty, budgets locked in before winter starts Professional winter services backed by proven systems
Budget certainty with fixed-fee contracts:
Pay one agreed price for the entire winter season regardless of weather severity. No surprise invoices, no emergency contractor gouging, total cost control from October through April.
Legal protection through GPS-tracked proof:
Every gritting run documented with timestamps, locations, photographic evidence. Undisputed proof of duty of care compliance if liability claims arise.
Local weather expertise for your region:
We monitor South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley microclimates. Atlantic weather systems, elevation changes, coastal effects - forecasting tailored to your actual road surface temperatures, not generic regional predictions.
Twenty-four-hour response capability:
Winter Service Duty Managers monitoring conditions around the clock. Gritters mobilised before ice forms, not after accidents happen. Guaranteed response times matched to your priority routes.
Resource efficiency reducing environmental impact:
Brine application where appropriate, optimised salt spreading rates, targeted treatment only when genuinely needed. Professional forecasting prevents wasteful over-treatment.
Operational continuity when competitors shut down:
Your staff reach your facility safely, deliveries continue, operations maintain schedule. Competitors with inadequate winter prep lose revenue - you keep running.
Why councils and facility managers choose Highways Plus
You’re accountable for network safety with finite budgets. You need a partner who understands winter maintenance isn’t about spreading salt – it’s about preventing the liability disasters and operational failures that destroy reputations.
What sets us apart
We know South West winters inside out:
Twenty-five years managing gritting across Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, South Wales, Thames Valley. Rapid Atlantic weather changes? We’ve managed thousands. Elevation-driven microclimates? Built into our forecasting.
Fixed-fee certainty or flexible cost-per-visit:
Most clients choose fixed-fee contracts for total budget predictability. Severe winter or mild? Same price. Alternatively, cost-per-visit if you prefer paying only when treatments happen. Your choice.
GPS tracking proves every treatment:
Real-time fleet monitoring, timestamp documentation, photographic evidence. You’ll have undisputed proof of service for legal compliance and liability defence.
Rapid response when severe weather hits
Gritters mobilised within agreed response times – typically two to four hours for primary routes. No excuses, no delays, guaranteed availability.
Environmental responsibility built in:
Brine spreading reducing salt usage by up to 50%. Precision forecasting ensuring treatment only when genuinely needed. Responsible winter maintenance protecting infrastructure and environment.
NHSS accreditation and ISO standards:
Proven compliance with National Highway Sector Schemes, ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental standards. Professional standards you can verify.
A clear, structured process that keeps your site running
Winter maintenance needs accurate forecasting, strategic decision-making, rapid mobilisation. Full documentation protecting your organization.
What you get...
Most services run from early October through late April, covering the full winter weather window with continuous monitoring even during mild periods.
Fixed-fee contracts quoted based on your network size, priority route requirements, and target response times. Cost-per-visit alternatives available if budget flexibility matters more than cost certainty.
Pre-winter preparation and route planning:
We map your priority routes, identify high-risk areas (bridge decks, shaded sections, slopes), establish treatment protocols, test equipment. You approve the winter service plan before the season starts.
Continuous weather monitoring and decision-making:
Our Winter Service Duty Managers monitor forecasts, road surface temperatures, weather radar 24/7. Treatment decisions made based on your specific location and surface conditions, not guesswork.
Precautionary gritting before ice forms:
Salt or brine applied when road surface temperatures forecast to drop below 1°C. Preventative treatment more effective and cheaper than reactive spreading after ice develops.
Reactive response for unexpected conditions:
Severe weather hitting without warning? Emergency mobilisation, priority route treatment, snow ploughing if required. GPS-tracked proof of every response for your records.
Winter maintenance and gritting services CASE STUDY
Business park facility, Gloucestershire
The Challenge:
- Multi-tenant business park with 200+ staff accessing the site daily, 15 HGV deliveries per day, mixture of public and private road responsibilities.
- Previous winter saw three staff vehicle accidents on untreated roads during overnight ice. No professional gritting contract in place - facilities manager making reactive decisions based on weather apps, calling local contractors when ice had already formed.
- Managing agent concerned about occupier liability exposure. Tenants complaining about unsafe access. Insurance premiums increasing after claims. No documented proof of duty of care compliance.
Our Solution:
- Fixed-fee winter maintenance contract covering primary access routes and car parks, secondary routes treated during severe weather, footpath gritting for pedestrian safety.
- Twenty-four-hour weather monitoring specific to the site's elevation and local microclimate, not generic county forecasts. Precautionary gritting scheduled before overnight freezing, preventing ice formation rather than reacting to it.
- GPS-tracked proof of service provided after every treatment run - timestamps, locations, photographic documentation. Managing agent given legal protection documentation demonstrating duty of care compliance.
The Outcome:
- Zero staff accidents on treated surfaces throughout winter season
- Insurance premiums stabilised after demonstrating professional winter maintenance compliance
- Operational continuity maintained - no weather-related site closures or delivery delays
- Fixed-fee contract delivered £8,500 total winter cost versus previous year's £12,000+ in emergency contractor call-outs and accident-related costs
Proven delivery of winter maintenance across diverse sectors
Whether you’re managing public highways, commercial facilities, or industrial operations, you need confidence your network stays safe and accessible when severe weather hits.
Sectors that rely on us:
Local councils and highway authorities:
Statutory duty of care under Highways Act 1980 requiring demonstrable winter maintenance. Primary and secondary route gritting, emergency response, documented proof of service for legal compliance.
Industrial parks and logistics hubs:
Operational continuity critical – staff accessing facilities, HGV deliveries continuing regardless of weather. Heavy-duty site gritting, loading bay treatment, 24/7 availability.
Business estates and commercial property:
Hospital access, ambulance routes, emergency facility operations cannot be compromised by weather. Priority treatment protocols, rapid response guarantees, proven reliability.
Education facilities:
Schools, colleges, universities requiring safe access for students and staff. Footpath gritting, car park treatment, term-time focused service avoiding unnecessary treatments during holidays.
Retail and leisure destinations:
Customer access critical for revenue – untreated car parks mean lost footfall. Professional gritting maintaining visitor safety, protecting your brand and reducing slip-claim liability.
Your Winter maintenance and gritting services questions, answered...
How far in advance should we arrange winter gritting services?
Ideally by September for October contract start. Professional services book capacity through summer – waiting until first frost means limited contractor availability and higher emergency rates. Early commitment secures best pricing and guaranteed service.
What's the difference between fixed-fee and cost-per-visit contracts?
Fixed-fee provides total budget certainty – you pay the same amount regardless of winter severity, allowing predictable budgeting and no surprise invoices. Cost-per-visit charges only when treatments happen, optimizing costs in mild winters but creating budget uncertainty in severe seasons. Most councils and businesses choose fixed-fee for budget control.
How do you prove gritting services were actually completed?
GPS tracking on all gritters provides timestamps, locations, routes traveled. Photographic documentation at strategic points. Real-time fleet monitoring lets you watch active operations. Digital documentation protects your organization in liability situations – undisputed proof of duty of care compliance.
What areas do you cover for winter maintenance?
South West England (Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon), South Wales, and Thames Valley. Regional expertise means we understand local weather patterns, Atlantic systems, elevation effects, microclimates – not relying on generic national forecasts.
Can you provide emergency snow clearance as well as regular gritting?
Yes. Snow ploughing, mechanical clearance, combined salt treatment included in comprehensive winter maintenance contracts. Severe weather response protocols ensure rapid mobilisation when heavy snow hits.
What happens if weather forecasts are wrong?
Professional weather monitoring uses road surface temperature sensors and location-specific forecasting, not generic regional predictions. When genuinely unexpected conditions occur, rapid reactive response mobilises gritters within agreed timescales. You’re protected either way.
How quickly can you respond to unexpected ice or snow?
Response times depend on route priority classification agreed in your winter service plan. Primary routes typically two to four hours, secondary routes four to six hours. Emergency mobilisation available for severe unexpected conditions.
Do you offer footpath and pedestrian route gritting?
Yes. High-traffic pedestrian areas, shopping precincts, town centres, emergency access routes receive focused treatment. Particularly important for public-facing facilities with occupier liability exposure.
What evidence do you provide for legal compliance?
GPS-tracked documentation with timestamps and locations for every treatment, photographic proof at key points, weather decision logs showing treatment rationale, service completion reports. Everything needed to demonstrate duty of care compliance under Highways Act 1980 or Occupiers’ Liability Act.
Need to understand your winter service requirements and budget options?
Book a Free, No-Obligation Winter maintenance and gritting services Assessment
We’ll assess your site, identify priority routes and high-risk areas, recommend treatment protocols, provide fixed-fee and cost-per-visit quotations with no obligation.
No sales pressure, no commitment required – just expert advice from specialists who’ve managed winter maintenance across hundreds of sites throughout the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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