Herefordshire to spend £1.4 million on 'winter resilience'

A Herefordshire Council decision this week approved £1.16 million on eight new winter gritters to replace its current fleet over the next four years.

It will also spend £180,000 on renewing “outdated” weather monitoring and forecasting stations, and £40,000 on new flood warning sensors, with a further £22,000 going on installation and management.

The decision was taken yesterday (January 24) by cabinet member Infrastructure and transport Coun John Harrington.

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Last month the council also confirmed it would spend £343,000 on other new machinery, rather than continue to hire it.

On its shopping list are two road sweepers, two high-lift dumpers, two excavators and one towable wood-chipper.

It said that the cost of hiring the same kit over five years would have been £560,000, meaning the plant it has committed to buying will have paid for itself in just over three years.

This “will then release funds that can be re-invested into the service”, the council’s decision notice said.

A council spokesperson confirmed: “The approved decision allows the council to start the procurement process. We haven’t taken delivery of any vehicles at this stage.”

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