Communities throughout Aberdeen can apply to get free one-tonne salt bags which they can use to treat their icy roads and pavements in their neighbourhood.
The scheme is designed for help communities help themselves as winter starts, as the first snow of the winter hit the North-east on Friday.
Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure convener Councillor Neil Cooney said: “We have a workforce of 90 to cover 24/7 operations and they do their best under winter conditions, often going above and beyond their duty.
“Our early morning and standby operations started on Monday (November 16) and will carry on until March 20, unless wintry weather continues.
“Of course we want to keep roads open and residents safe but unfortunately our staff can’t be everywhere around the city at all times - there are 560 miles of roads in Aberdeen, slightly more than the distance from the city to London, and there are 1,242 miles of pavements.
“We started the self-help community salt bags scheme three years ago, and it’s become more and more popular. Groups ranging from residents in the same street banding together to parent teacher councils treating pavements around schools have received salt bags in previous years, so we’d encourage many more communities to apply for the scheme.”
The one-tonne community salt bags, like the salt provided in grit bins, will be for use only on public areas. A secure and accessible area, like a driveway or garage, would have to be available for storing the salt.
Any groups which would like a one-tonne bag of salt for community use should contact by email on winter@aberdeencity.gov.uk or by phoning ACC’s Customer Contact Centre on 08456 08 09 19.
The community salt bags are delivered free of charge, are replaced as necessary, and are removed at the end of winter.
More information can be found on the Aberdeen City Council winter maintenance website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/winter