Winter Service Plan - Decision making process
1.3 Decision making process
1.3.1 The day to day routine operational decisions will be made by the Winter Controller using weather forecasts provided by Weather Services Provider and the road and weather monitoring data.
1.3.2 The Overall Winter Period shall be from 14 October 2024 until 21 May 2025, with the Core Winter Period being from the fourth Monday of each October ending on the second Monday of April (these periods can be extended should conditions warrant).
1.3.3 On receipt of a weather forecast or update, the Winter Controller will reach a decision on action for the next 24 hours from one of the five options:
1. Pre-salting to commence immediately after the period of mobilisation.
2. Pre-salting to commence at a specified time (e.g. 1900 hours).
3. Treatment is likely - but start time cannot yet be determined.
4. Treatment is possible - conditions being monitored by patrol vehicles (marginal night).
5. No action planned (minimum forecast temperature +1°C).
1.3.4 Only if treatment is planned the decision record will include the required salt spread rate. Any post salting or snow clearance subsequently required shall also be recorded. This decision and any updates will be distributed to appropriate roads personnel and stakeholders.
1.3.5 The Winter Decision Matrix is contained in the Severe Weather Operations Plan.
1.3.6 Post salting would be carried out under the following circumstances.
a) On Priority 1 Routes where salt has been washed off due to rain.
b) Remaining roads may be treated by salting as determined by priority, progress, conditions, and resources.
1.3.7 Snow clearing operations will be undertaken across the network as conditions dictate.
1.3.8 When snow is forecast, the Priority 1 routes will be treated in accordance with the Treatment Matrix.
1.3.9 Two stages of snow clearing can beconsidered
a) Light falls of undisturbed accumulation of snow reaching a depth of less than 10mm in depth. Normally be dealt with by one or more repeated applications of salt.
b) Moderate/Heavy falls of snow greater than 10mm in depth that may also be associated with drifting. These conditions may require the use of ploughs, specialised equipment and/or mechanical excavators in addition to salting. As ploughing may block junctions and side roads, arrangements will be made to remove any resulting accumulations of snow, as resources permit.
1.3.10 Normal priority (when resources permit) will be to clear the snow from Minimum Winter Network Routes (Snow Routes) then clear the remaining Priority 1 Routes before dealing with the Priority 2 and Priority 3 routes.
1.3.11 Under extreme conditions the priority will be to clear and treat the Minimum Winter Network Routes (Snow Routes).
Contact information
Phone: 01563 503 160
E-mail: enquiries@ayrshireroadsalliance.org
Address: Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Opera House, 8 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1DD