Powys County Council confirmed this week that revised winter service routes will operate across the county this winter following a review of its gritting network.

Under the arrangements, Tier 1 and Tier 2 roads make up the routine precautionary gritting network, while Tier 3 roads are classed as Community routes and are not normally treated for standard frost and ice, although they may be treated during significant or prolonged severe weather.

Council papers show that the previous precautionary network covered around 1,005km of road. Under the revised arrangements, around 701km will form the precautionary network, meaning more than 300km is being removed from routine precautionary treatment.

The council says the revised routes have been decided using factors including traffic levels, public transport, access to schools and medical centres, emergency services and wider community needs.

Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, said: “Our priority is to provide a winter service that is fair, consistent and focused on keeping people, communities and essential services moving safely during frost, ice and snow.

“The review has allowed us to reassess the network using current national guidance, local engagement and operational testing. The revised routes prioritise roads used by the greatest number of people, access to key services and connections between communities.

“Not every road can be routinely treated, and a gritted road is not guaranteed to be ice-free. Winter driving can be more hazardous, so residents are advised to check weather conditions and the latest gritting information online before travelling, and to always drive according to the road conditions."

Its own scrutiny committee has previously raised concerns about road safety, the potential isolation of rural communities and emergency access.

Speaking on the situation, Tyler Chambers said: “I completely understand the anger and concern being expressed by residents because I share those concerns too. For many communities, whether a road is gritted can make a difference to people getting to work, children getting to school or residents getting to important hospital or GP appointments.

“We all know what winter can be like in Powys. Roads can become icy very quickly and the conditions can be completely different from one part of the county to another.

“The fact that more than 300km is being removed from the routine precautionary gritting network is understandably going to worry people who use those roads every day.

“This is something I raised during the last election campaign. Even on one of the hottest days of the campaign I was talking about winter gritting and the problems changes to the service could cause. I said then that we needed to think about what happens when winter arrives.

“For some people there simply isn't another sensible route. We have people travelling to work early in the morning, school transport, carers visiting vulnerable residents, farmers who need to get to livestock and people travelling considerable distances for medical appointments.

“That is the reality of living in Powys and it has to be properly taken into account when decisions like this are made.”

Powys County Council says its review was carried out using a consistent and evidence-led approach and that additional salt bins have been installed at locations identified through the process. The authority has also said that its arrangements for dealing with severe snow remain unchanged.

The council's scrutiny committee previously asked for the impact of the changes to continue to be monitored, particularly in rural areas. Members also expressed concern about whether all residents would be able to access and use community grit bins effectively.

Council records show the changes were expected to deliver around £87,000 towards a long-standing winter maintenance savings target.

Mr Chambers added: “I have written to Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, asking Powys County Council to look again at these arrangements and at the concerns residents are raising.

“I want to know what assessment has been made of the effect on school transport, carers, emergency access and people travelling to essential medical appointments, particularly on roads which are being removed from routine precautionary treatment.

“I also want the council to make clear how these changes will be monitored once winter arrives and what will happen if particular routes are found to be causing problems.

“Decisions about winter gritting have a very real effect on people's everyday lives and those concerns deserve to be listened to and we have to take those concerns to Powys County Council.

“There is still time before the worst of the winter weather arrives for the council to look again at the concerns being raised and make changes where they are needed.”