Council buy record-breaking salt supply

Oct 20 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian Council have a record breaking 30,000 tonnes of salt in stock for this winter.

At the start of last year’s severe weather there was 20,000 tonnes in stock and that was double the amount used the year before.

Council leader, Peter Johnston, commented: “The last two years have seen severe weather with last winter widely acknowledged as being the worst in the last 100 years.

“Obviously, no one knows for sure what this winter will bring however the best information we have is that it is likely to be as bad as last winter.

“While we hope that this is wrong we have taken the decision to have three times as much salt in stock at the start of the winter as 2009/10.

“Council staff have been working hard to make our services as ‘Winter Ready’ as possible.

West Lothian Council are also supporting the Scottish Government’s ‘Ready for Winter’ week which starts on October 24 with a TV campaign.

More information is available on www.readyscotland.org.

More information on West Lothian Council’s preparations for winter is available online:www.westlothian.gov.uk/winter