By Isle of Wight Observer
Island Roads carried out 22 gritting runs across the Island this winter – the lowest number in the 13 years the company has been responsible for the highway network.
Most of the runs were made during the cold spell between Christmas Eve and New Year, with crews deployed on consecutive days from December 24 to January 10.
Across the winter season, just under 370 tonnes of salt were used to help keep roads safe and accessible.
That compares with 40 gritting runs and 830 tonnes of salt during the 2024/25 winter season, and 32 runs using nearly 479 tonnes the previous year.
Despite the milder temperatures, the Island saw one of its wettest starts to a year on record, with the equivalent of six months’ rainfall falling in January and February alone.
Island Roads said the heavy rain, especially when combined with freezing weather, increased the risk of flooding and created ideal conditions for potholes to form.
A spokesman said there had been no reduction in workload across the business, despite the lower number of gritting runs.
He said: “Whether through gritting runs or through maintenance work to tackle the potholes caused by the unusually heavy rainfall, it has been yet another very busy winter season.
“I would like to thank our winter maintenance staff for their dedication and hard work over the season – particularly as much of the required gritting took place in very cold temperatures while most people were enjoying the Christmas and New Year period.”
Although the official winter season has now ended, Island Roads said it will continue to monitor forecasts and remain ready to grit the network if unseasonably cold weather returns.
Mal Butler