WORCESTERSHIRE is bracing itself for days of icy winds and sub-zero temperatures as the ‘Troll of Trondheim’ weather front sweeps in from Norway.
According to the Met Office, temperatures could fall as low as -3°C tonight and over the weekend.
And, although no snow was forecast for Worcestershire or south Birmingham as the Standard went to press, that could all change as the freezing system makes its way across the UK.
Gritters have been out across Worcestershire every night since Wednesday and will continue tonight and over the next few days to keep people moving.
The county council has 36 gritting vehicles, 54 drivers and 16,750tonnes of salt across six depots and 1,320 grit bins placed strategically across Worcestershire.
The district council urged residents to check bromsgrove.gov.uk for the latest updates about its services as bin collections may change in the event of snow or extreme ice.
Some weather experts have predicted the Troll of Trondheim could remain over the UK for ten days or more.
Coun Mike Rouse, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Staff at our depots across the county are preparing and working with our Highways teams to ensure the grit hits the road at precisely the right time, to make the roads safe for our residents to travel as the colder weather continues.
“We have five large barns and a dome filled with enough salt ready to hit the county’s roads, and if and when the county sees significant levels of snow, we have snow ploughs available to be fitted to our gritters, to help clear the roads.”
To view the gritting routes map and the grit bin locations map go to: worcestershire.gov.uk/gritting and to report any issues on the roads including with grit bins, visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit
Drivers are also being urged to take extra care on more rural roads which may not be gritted.
