The municipal engineer's role in winter emergencies

Abstract

Unlike other parts of the UK, snow of any significance in Kent is infrequent. Kent County Council (KCC) budgets for 60 complete salting runs each year with no allocation for snow or ice clearance. Only when snow or ice is more than 50 mm deep, or ice remains for more than a couple of days, does KCC declare a ‘snow or ice emergency’. The management of such emergencies can stretch the council's resources when other parts of the country treat them as routine occurrences. This paper describes briefly how KCC plans for winter salting and snow clearance and the decision process it has in place for taking action.