Northumberland County Council has secured a new winter gritting contract to cover a number of routes in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The agreement comes as part of the council’s ongoing investment in winter maintenance, with its 28-strong vehicle fleet now set to cover additional routes in Newcastle after winning the contract to provide services on behalf of Newcastle City Council, says the Hexham Courant.

Mark Mather (pictured, third right), cabinet member for roads and highways at Northumberland County Council, said:

“We’re pleased to have secured the winter maintenance gritting contract for Newcastle’s roads over the winter. It will benefit both councils and our residents can be reassured there will be no impact on the service they receive.”

The new contract was made possible after Northumberland County Council ceased to be responsible for winter maintenance on the A69.

This freed up resources to take on the Newcastle routes without affecting capacity within Northumberland.

Peter Lovatt (pictured, third left), cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local services at Newcastle City Council, commented:

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Northumberland County Council to deliver an effective and reliable winter roads maintenance service in Newcastle. Northumberland County Council already operates a well-established, large-scale winter maintenance service, with specialist equipment, staff and resources, all dedicated to keeping roads safe during snow and icy conditions.”

He said the partnership will offer value for money and peace of mind for residents, adding:

“This new contract means that we can benefit from these existing facilities, systems and expertise, providing value for money for our residents while also giving them confidence that Newcastle’s key routes will be kept  safe during the winter months.”

(Picture: Northumberland County Council)