Calderdale Highways team give explanation why the roads are so bad as snow hits the borough

The snow has caused huge traffic delays and treacherous driving conditions which has resulted in some crashes.

Calderdale highways team has given an explanation to why the roads are particulary bad despite the preparation work they have done.

A spokesperson said: "Our gritters have been out overnight, and our full fleet of 22 gritters with additional tractor ploughs have been out treating roads from 4am this morning.

"Due to the heavy rain before the snowfall, our salt is ineffective in some areas, but our gritters will remain out treating roads until the snow is cleared.

"Our area teams are clearing snow and treating roads at all six vaccination centres.

"There's currently road disruption across Calderdale due to vehicles getting stuck and struggling to drive in the conditions. Please stay at home if you can and take extra care if it's essential to travel

Calderdale Council's gritting and winter service

As gritters attempt to treat the highway network across the borough this is how it comes to the decision on what roads to treat first.

The priority for road gritting is based on route hierarchy and level of use. Main roads will be gritted before other routes.

Before, the Council’s gritting programme was based on custom and practice with no clear rules for the selection of routes.

The Council states it cannot grit the whole of the road network in Calderdale, due to the time and cost involved.

At the moment, the local authority grit over 600km of roads in the borough. Other routes will be added after extra gritters have been brought in.

In severe weather, snow clearing work is done with the following priority: A roads, B roads, remainder of the priority network.

Clearing and removing snow from roads depends upon the amount of snow and the conditions at any particular time.