Snow clearance

Snow clearing

Snow clearing is a separate operation to precautionary salting and gritting.

Snow clearance commences after and/or during extensive and continuous snowfall.

The City Council's fleet of gritters, operated by Carillion, are fitted with snow blades. Snow clearance will initially concentrate on clearing Priority 1 roads until they are completely open to traffic. After this, Priority 2 roads will then be cleared.

Treatment of roads outside the priority network will only take place following sustained period of severe snow conditions, providing Priority 1 and 2 routes have been cleared and can be kept clear. 

In conjunction with snow clearance roads will be gritted to prevent snow accumulation and achieve traction, particularly in the case of compacted snow.

When conditions dictate, and in very severe weather conditions where snowfall affects the use of footways, consideration is given, in priority order, to the removal of snow from pedestrian routes as follows:

• Main shopping streets in:
  • City Centre, Wolverhampton
  • Bilston Town Centre
  • Wednesfield, Tettenhall, Penn and Pendeford district centres
• Footways on public highways which serve bus stations, railway stations and hospitals.

Information regarding the Council's winter gritting operations can be found within the gritting web page. 

If you would like further information regarding the Winter Service Plan or snow clearance, contact us.

Winter service plan

The City Council annually produces and updates a Winter Service Plan.

The objective of the winter service plan is to provide a winter service which, as far as is reasonably practical, will permit the safe movement of traffic along its prioritised network.

Precautionary salting is therefore undertaken to 465Km of priority routes ( principal routes, classified routes, other important distributor roads, bus routes, steep roads).

To view/download the Winter Service Plan click on the following icon:

A leaflet outlining the winter service for Wolverhampton's roads, which shows the priority and town centre gritting routes, grit bin locations and useful information regarding winter driving is available from:

• Civic Centre
• Heantun House, Salop Street
• Tourist Information Centre
• Public libraries
• Housing Offices

Alternatively you may request a copy using contact page.