Cost of keeping Newcastle Airport open during cold snap revealed

Feb 3 2010 by Adam Jupp, The Journal

More supplies of grit shipped in

CONSIGNMENTS of grit have been shipped to the North East in preparation for another bout of icy weather.

With more snow predicted, some grit was delivered to council depots yesterday and they expect more by the end of the week.

Steve Keetley of Durham County Council, said they had been prudent with our supplies" and are "able to continue to pre-salt our A and B category network while stocks remain".

Northumberland has 3,600 tonnes of salt after yesterday’s delivery, which is enough for between seven and 28 days, depending on the weather conditions.

Gateshead Council has enough supplies to deal with several days of further severe weather, while South Tyneside has just 300 tonnes, which are expected to last until the end of the week. North Tyneside Council says it has enough to deal with predicted conditions, based on Met Office estimates.

Concern had been mounting in Newcastle, where neighbourhood grit bins are empty and supplies were running low ahead of yesterday’s snowfall. But 200 tonnes arrived yesterday, with a further 200 tonnes promised for today.

The Met Officer predicts today’s weather will be frosty and icy, with sleet and snow falling during the course of the day, sometimes heavily and especially over hilly areas of the region.

The maximum temperature will be 2C, the minimum -4C, and there is expected to be heavy snow tonight.