Harrow's gritting salt supplies dwindle

Harrow had just one tenth of its annual winter supply of gritting salt left at the weekend before a much-needed delivery turned up on Tuesday.

The authority was down to 180 tonnes at its depot at Forward Drive, Wealdstone, including 35 tonnes given to it by Transport for London, until the first part of a 500-tonne order arrived two days ago from Cleveland in north-east England.

Contractor EnterpriseMouchel had used 20 tonnes per day, 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening, during the worst of the ice and snow a fortnight ago.

Speaking on Tuesday, the council's highways manager John Greenfield said: "Our stocks were crucially low this morning, but luckily the London Local Authority Control Centre (LLACC) has been working to ensure boroughs don't actually run out during this national salt shortage.

"Thanks to LLACC's work, Transport for London has helped us out by allocating 35 tonnes to us from their very own stockpile."