Cars slide across icy roads as council say they won’t grit everywhere

Roads across Southport are covered in ice and frost with many drivers struggling to keep control of their cars.

Roads are so icy that braking is becoming increasingly difficult and motorists are having to reduce their speeds to a crawl.

The temperature in the town dropped to -1°c overnight and was made worse by hail storms and sleet.

The council have said however they won’t grit every road or pavement, meaning many will be left stranded today.

They say they will only focus on ‘priority roads’ and pavements with heavy footfall.

A council spokesperson told OTS News “ As with previous winters, Sefton Council is treating more than 290 miles of the busiest roads and most-used footpaths throughout the Borough.

“In the last five days contractors have been dispatched seven times to treat roads and pavements in Sefton.

“However, in extended periods of sub-zero temperatures or heavy snowfall, the effectiveness of gritting can be partially diminished.

“Grit also works most effectively in conjunction with significant volumes of traffic with busier roads tending to clearer more quickly than those roads used by less traffic.”