Winter update 19 January

The forecast is for a good chance of more snow and sleet tonight and into Wednesday morning, especially on higher ground.

Road surface temperatures will also be below freezing in some areas which could lead to icy conditions.

Our dedicated Roads team will be out gritting the primary carriageways this evening and throughout the night as required.

The vast majority of grit bins have now been refilled and salt is also available for collection at strategic points around West Lothian as detailed below.

If you do need to make an essential journey, please take extra care and stay safe.

FAQs below

Q. Where can I collect grit? 

A. Salt piles are available to residents on a self-help basis at the following strategic locations: 

• Xcite Centre, McGinley Way, Linlithgow
• Xcite Centre, Church Street, Broxburn
• Livingston North Train Station (South Car Park)
• Livingston South Train Station Car Park
• Xcite Centre, Craigswood, Livingston
• West Calder Business Centre, Dickson Street
• Blackburn Partnership Centre, Ash Grove
• Xcite Centre, Jubilee Road, Whitburn
• Xcite Centre, Torphichen Road, Bathgate
• Xcite Centre, North Street, Armadale

Q. Are you refilling grit bins?

A. Our teams have refilled the vast majority of the 2,500 public grit bins in West Lothian with those remaining expected to be done over the next couple of days.

If you are using a grit bin, please only take what you need. If you see any commercial businesses taking grit, please let us know. We are aware of several incidents where grit bins have been emptied almost immediately.

The grit from grit bins isn't for private use in your own garden or path. If you are using a grit bin, please only take what you need for the public path and public road outside your home. If you require grit for your own property, please purchase grit or salt from a retailer. 

Q. When I drive behind a gritter, they aren't always spreading grit/salt. Why is that?

A. Each gritter has an allocated route to ensure the network is treated as efficiently as possible. A gritter may be tasked with spreading salt on a route in Livingston therefore doesn't start spreading until it reaches that location. Another reason is that a gritter may have used all its salt and is heading back to the depot for a refill.

Q. If I see a gritter that is not moving, why is that?

A. Drivers need to have a break from driving - it's the law. If one of our gritters hasn't moved in a while, this could be the reason why. Alternatively the vehicle may have broken down and is awaiting recovery.

Q. Why do gritter vehicles spend so much time in and around Bathgate?

A. Our depot is in Bathgate so all gritters need to set off from Bathgate, return to re-fuel, load up with more grit and change drivers. Therefore they are in and out of Bathgate, a lot.

Q. Why aren't you gritting housing estates?

A. The council doesn't have the resources to treat all roads simultaneously therefore we need to prioritise. Housing estates are secondary level 2 routes treated on a reactive basis only during normal working hours. These routes will only be treated when the higher priority routes are deemed to be in a satisfactory condition.

Q. What about railway station car parks and other private car parks?

A. The council don't treat private car parks.

Thank you and stay safe everyone.