Winter Maintenance

The Council is responsible for winter maintenance on adopted roads and footways throughout Clackmannanshire.

We have to prioritise roads and footways so that the most important routes are treated first. Sometimes, long periods of bad weather mean that we have to concentrate on keeping main routes open: this keeps our fleet constantly in use and means we do not treat less-used routes. See our Footpath Gritting Map and Road Gritting Priorities Map.

Our forecaster supplies us with a detailed local forecast daily during winter. If the forecast warns of adverse weather conditions, we take action. We also monitor weather conditions 24 hours a day.

Priority 1 roads

The strategic road network including all major bus service routes, main urban traffic routes, principal routes to most schools and routes to emergency service establishments.

Precautionary salt treatment between 5.30 am and midnight
Treatment of ice formations between 5.30 am and midnight
Snow clearing 24 hours a day

It takes 2½ hours to treat ice on all Priority 1 roads, so in the morning we start treatment at 5.30 am and aim to finish by 8.00am. Clearing snow can take longer.

Priority 2 roads

These are the major secondary routes which include urban spine roads into housing and industrial areas; certain rural roads and identified routes including major cul-de-sacs in housing and industrial areas; and certain roads opening up less populated rural areas.

These areas are only treated when the prevailing ice or snow conditions are likely to continue beyond midday. They are only treated once the Priority 1 routes are clear.

Priority 3 roads

The remainder of the road network will only be treated in very exceptional weather conditions. Please make use of grit bins where appropriate.

Footways/pavements

Priority 1 footways

Immediately outside shops in urban, community or village shopping centres, where there are at least 3 shops.
Connecting such shopping areas to relatively nearby and identified public buildings.
Adopted footways in sheltered housing or residential complexes for the elderly.
One side along Priority 1 roads in built up areas which best serves pedestrian traffic and/or serves the most premises.
Providing a link to old people's homes or sheltered housing complexes from the nearest treated footway.
Standing areas at bus stops
Outside the main access gates to schools.

These will be salted each morning that there is snow or ice unless it's expected to melt before 8 am. We try to clear snow mechanically. Snow at other times of the working day will be cleared before 8.30 am the following morning.

Footways will only be treated 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday) except in Alloa town centre when they will be treated 7 days a week in the run up to Christmas.

Priority 2 and 3 footways

The remainder of the footway network will only be treated in very exceptional weather conditions.

Link footpaths will not be treated where alternative, longer, treated footway routes are available.

Be prepared

Check out the Priority Gritting Route Map in the documents section below. It shows the main priority routes throughout Clackmannanshire.

Always drive according to the conditions: just because a road has a high priority rating does not mean it is safe to drive at normal speeds in poor weather conditions! For more information see our winter driving page.

Grit bins

Grit bins are provided at:

steep gradients
sharp bends
awkward cul-de-sacs

We will refill them as quickly as we can after bad weather, for more information about grit bins, please see our Grit Bin Frequently Asked Questions page. Alternatively, for information on grit bin locations please see our online Grit Bin Map.

Help yourself to help others

Over the years, householders and businesses have cleared footways around their own properties. This type of self-help does make a big contribution in making areas safer for everyone, especially the elderly. It allows us to concentrate on helping people who are unable to help themselves.

You can refer to Directgov's web page about clearing snow and ice from pavements yourselffor useful advice and information.

Public Transport

Due to the adverse weather many bus routes and trains are subject to delays, cancellation or rerouting. We are trying to provide as much up to date information on the services operating in Clackmannanshire as possible. For more information please check our public transport page.