11 When does the council normally begin its winter gritting season? A in early September B in mid October C in early December
12 What is treated first when bad weather is forecast? A routes to schools B main roads and bus routes C residential streets
13 Who decides when gritting lorries are sent out? A the police B a weather forecaster C the duty supervisor
14 What is the main reason some steep roads are not gritted? A they are too narrow for lorries B they are private roads C they are outside the council boundary
15 Residents are advised to report which problem first? A blocked drains B fallen trees C icy pavements
16 What does the council say about using salt from grit bins? A it is only for public roads and paths B it can be used anywhere if paid for C it should be saved for emergencies only
Questions 17 and 18
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO actions does the council recommend residents take before a cold spell? A check tyre pressure B keep a small snow shovel C store drinking water D sign up for text alerts E clear leaves from drains
Questions 19 and 20
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO outcomes of last winter’s changes surprised the council? A fewer minor collisions B faster bus journey times C lower salt usage D fewer hospital slip admissions E increased volunteer participation
Keys
11 B 12 B 13 C 14 A 15 C 16 A 17 D 18 E 19 C 20 E
Transcript
Part 2: You will hear a radio interview about winter gritting.
PRESENTER: Welcome back. With temperatures dropping this week, we’re talking about how towns keep roads and pavements safe. My guest is Martin Shaw, operations manager at Northvale Council, responsible for the winter gritting programme. Martin, people often imagine you simply wait for snow and then send out lorries. Is that how it works?
MARTIN: Not quite. We plan months in advance. Our official winter season begins in mid October, because that’s when overnight road temperatures can start dipping close to freezing, even if the days still feel mild. We check equipment, refill salt stores, and test the spreaders long before the first frost.
PRESENTER: So when a cold night is forecast, what gets treated first?
MARTIN: We work in a strict order. The priority routes are main roads, key junctions, and bus routes, because if those seize up, everything else does too. After that we move to access roads for emergency services, then we look at hills and known trouble spots. Residential streets are important, but we can’t treat them all early on, so they come later unless there’s a specific risk.
PRESENTER: And who actually makes the call to send the lorries out?
MARTIN: We take advice from a specialist forecasting service, but the decision is made in-house by the duty supervisor. They look at predicted road surface temperature, rainfall, and timing. If rain is expected after salting, for instance, we may delay slightly so it isn’t washed away.
PRESENTER: Listeners often complain about steep side roads. Why are some left untreated?
MARTIN: The biggest issue is width. Some of the steepest roads in Northvale are also narrow, with parked cars on both sides. A full-size gritting lorry can’t get through safely, so we use smaller vehicles where possible or focus on the connecting main route and nearby footpaths.
PRESENTER: Speaking of footpaths, what should residents report when conditions are bad?
MARTIN: If you have to choose one, report icy pavements, especially outside clinics, schools, and shopping areas. Those slips lead to injuries quickly. Fallen trees and blocked drains matter too, but the immediate risk in a cold snap is people falling.
PRESENTER: Many streets have grit bins. Can people help themselves?
MARTIN: Absolutely, but with one rule. The salt is for public roads and public paths only. It’s there to help neighbours clear a short stretch outside their homes or to deal with a local hazard. It’s not for private driveways or businesses, because supplies are limited.
PRESENTER: Before a cold spell arrives, what do you advise households to do?
MARTIN: Two simple things make a big difference. First, sign up for our free text alerts so you know when routes are being treated and what’s expected overnight. And secondly, clear leaves from drains and gutters near your property. When drains are blocked, water pools and freezes into sheets of ice.
PRESENTER: Finally, you changed the plan last winter, didn’t you?
MARTIN: Yes, we adjusted timing and added a community scheme. What surprised us was that we used less salt overall, because spreading was more precise. And we also saw increased volunteer participation, with local groups adopting steps and footpaths near bus stops. That support was far bigger than we expected.
