Drivers urged to take care

Orkney Island Council is reminding drivers to be vigilant and take extra care in current conditions and into the next few days.

With temperatures as low as -6 degrees, and lower volumes of traffic on roads, there is a risk ‘salt’ laid down during gritting will not activate as readily.

Drivers should also be mindful that snow may fall onto frozen road surfaces and ice may form, especially on untreated areas, and be covered by a layer of snow in some places.

Squally conditions mean there is a risk of gritted roads being covered by drifting snow flurries.

At the present time, the council’s gritting operations are continuing in accordance with the Winter Service Plan (available at www.orkney.gov.uk) with gritting taking place between 6am and 6pm.

This sets out the priority routes gritting teams are focussing on. As and when resources become available and when priority routes are completed, treatment will move onto the more minor roads and footpaths.

Members of the public can flag up problem areas during office hours (9am to 5pm) by calling the council’s customer services team on  87 3535. Outside these hours, report dangerous road conditions to Police Scotland on the national inquiry line 101.