Gritting and Winter Maintenance
In the winter months, West Lothian Council has to treat over 1,000 km of roads and around 1,300 km of footways to combat the effects of bad weather. Further information, including advice on winter driving can be found below.
About our Winter Service
Our Winter Service normally operates from the last Thursday in October till the last Thursday in March. It is important to appreciate that it is not possible to treat all routes simultaneously.
In this view, the council must adopt a priority system to ensure that the treatment is targeted to areas of greatest need first.
The Council's Winter Service Policy
The Council`s Winter Service Policy has classified specific roads and footpaths within West Lothian as either a Primary or Secondary gritting route, not all roads and footpaths are gritted.
Secondary routes are further broken down into Levels 1, 2 and 3
We cannot treat every road or footpath, we just don't have the resources, so we must prioritise those that have been agreed with elected members.
Gritting Routes
Gritting Route and Winter Maintenance Enquiries
Should you have any enquiries relating to Gritting Routes or Winter Maintenance. Please use our online form.
Treatment of Routes
Where possible, we aim to treat, major roads and important bus routes (Primary routes) prior to the formation of ice. We operate this service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when necessary.
Primary routes tend to be the main roads within West Lothian.
Once the Primary carriageways have been treated and if resources and weather allow, we start to treatment to the Secondary Level 1 carriageways, such as those in housing estates and rural areas.
Once we have treated the Secondary Level 1 we only move onto the Secondary Level 2 carriageways treatment if the Primary and Secondary Level 1 are in a satisfactory condition and weather and resources allow.
Once the Secondary Level 2 routes treatments are completed we will only move to the Secondary Level 3 treatment routes if the Primary, Secondary Level 1 & 2 routes are in a satisfactory condition, weather and resources allow.
(Information in relation to the M8 and M9 motorway is detailed below)
Footways
We also deal with footways on a priority basis. In ice and snow conditions footways leading to schools, hospitals, health centres, shopping areas and where there is heavy pedestrian movement are treated first. Main routes to residential areas follow, with internal footways in housing areas being treated as resources permit.
In addition we provide over 2,000 grit bins, which are positioned throughout West Lothian for use by members of the public.
Grit Bins
You can request a grit bin to be refilled, request a replacement grit bin where it is missing, damaged or broken, or request a grit bin where one isn't present, using our online form.
Winter Information
- Ready Winter Information (opens new window)
- Traffic Scotland - Live Traffic Cameras (opens new window)
- Driving in Bad Weather [823KB]
- Winter Service in West Lothian [697KB] (Information on Gritting, Snow clearing, Winter driving tips and Contact numbers)
Service Standards - We will:
- Publish our winter maintenance policy, including treatment priorities and level of service, each year prior to the start of winter maintenance operations (details of our winter maintenance policy are provided in a guidance note);
- Carry out gritting and snow clearing operations on public roads and footpaths in accordance with published policy;
- Provide new grit bins in streets which meet the required criteria; and
- Fill grit bins on receipt of a request as resources allow, or following periods of severe weather.
Contact Details - For policy on route priorities, requests for new grit bin or refills, general information/comments on service provision - 01506 280000 (24 hour contact number)
M8 and M9 Motorway maintenance
Customers who wish to report new road defects, gritting issues, potholes, litter etc. on the M8 and M9 trunk roads should contact BEAR Scotland.
Their 24hr contact number is 0800 028 1414.
