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During the winter season, Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for keeping the highways in a safe condition. At least 42% of Hertfordshire’s roads, including major bus routes, are salted when required, which means that most people will live on or very close to a treated route. It is unrealistic to attempt to treat all roads during cold weather conditions. Precedence is given to an agreed network of roads on the following priority basis. For precautionary salting purposes, only Priority 1 and Priority 2 roads will be salted. The road section in question ( C40/35 12425343 Rook End High Wych 3u45 To C/line Of 3u79 Rook End Unnumbered Classified Rd - C L1 Local Distributor HH: Hertfordshire Highways E: 3-East Herts District 846 ) is an unnumbered unclassified rural road and therefore does not meet with criteria for priority 1,2(a) 2(b), Precautionary treatment. Therefore the priority of this road should remain the same. Road Priorities Priority Number Description Priority 1 Primary Roads Priority 2 (a) Main Distributor Roads Secondary Distributor Roads Roads serving significant industrial areas and shopping centres Priority 2(b) Selected Scheduled Bus Routes (In general small buses have greater manoeuvrability than conventional double decker buses therefore their routes will not be singled out) One road to each village Urban cycleways open to mopeds where accessible to vehicle mounted or towed spreaders Priority 3 Other roads with steep gradients in urban / residential areas Rural roads with poor drainage. Where the remainder of the road network running or standing water is a hazard Priority 4 The remainder of the road network The Council provides up to 30 tonnes of additional salt resource to every District and Borough Council, for use in town centres, high use footways and hot spots, but like us they cannot do everything that residents want. Above and beyond the normal gritting operations we also provide bagged salt to Town/Parish Councils and recognised resident and community groups to promote self help. This year alone we have provided over 5750 bags and the scheme has been reported as very successful. We have over 1000 salt bins on the highway network, and these are filled regularly, resources permitting, during snow periods. Like other authorities, as fast as we fill the salt bins they are emptied through legal or illegal operation. A lot of salt which is meant for our roads is stolen and used on private property. Unfortunately we are unable to provide additional grit bins as the demand for this resource has become unsustainable. The summer review will also look at both the salt bag and salt bin service as to whether these can changed to give a better and more responsive service to residents. The Council also actively encourages residents to promote self help options and to consider developing some contingency plans to mitigate the impact of any future snow events especially in those remote rural areas where liaison with local farmers who can join our support mechanism for snow clearance in severe conditions is actively encouraged. Whist the Council is sympathetic to the problems residents are facing, these are no different to many other rural roads across the County. Encouraging residents and engaging with farmers to clear /treat the Highway outside their properties or premises under a self help scheme is key therefore. This benefits all those living, visiting or working in the neighbourhood, especially the vulnerable . It is alright to clear the snow away as long as you act responsibly. We have been trying to get residents to do this, with limited effectiveness.