Footway priorities

Footways are treated in the following order:

F1

  • Main town and village shopping areas
  • Pedestrian precincts
  • Main routes to urban schools
  • Main access routes to hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Identified public buildings
  • Major sheltered housing complexes
  • Other high risk areas

Steps and ramps to underpasses and footbridges together with any 'low level' footpaths associated with the underpasses and the footpaths on the footbridges will also be treated as a priority.

Treatment and times

  • Precautionary salt treatment only on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager
  • Treatment of ice only on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager
  • Treatment of snow 24 hours per day on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager depending on the severity of conditions and resources available

The Duty Manager should be satisfied that the following criteria are met:

  • The general outlook established from forecasts and other weather information, is that ice conditions are likely to continue beyond 8am
  • Treatment of snow will be carried out in line with the priority 1 carriageway treatment unless the general outlook indicates that the snow conditions are not likely to continue beyond 8am the following day

F2

  • Busy links between shopping centres and commercial areas
  • Main pedestrian routes in major housing developments
  • Main access routes to sheltered housing complexes and other establishments
  • Identified day centres for older people or people with special needs

Treatment and times

Any treatment on Priority F2 routes will normally be carried out during working hours (7:30am – 4pm Monday to Thursday and 7:30am – 12:30pm on Friday).

  • No precautionary salt treatment
  • Treatment of ice, in so far as is practicable, only on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager
  • Treatment of snow, in so far as is practicable, on a prioritised basis depending on conditions and resources available and only on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager

The Duty Manager should be satisfied that the following criteria are met:

  • The general outlook established from forecasts and other weather information, is that the prevailing ice or snow conditions are likely to continue beyond midday 24 hours after the initial onset
  • The treatment of priority F2 routes should not be detrimental to the level of service required on priority F1 footways

F3

One footway along most priority 1 carriageway gritting routes within built up areas, which best serves pedestrian traffic or serves the most premises.

Treatment and times

Any treatment on Priority F3 routes will only be carried out during working hours (deemed to be 07:30 – 16:00hrs Monday to Thursday and 07:30 – 12:30hrs of a Friday inclusive). No Treatment will be will be carried out beyond these times

  • No precautionary salt treatment
  • Treatment in extreme ice or snow conditions, in so far as is practicable, on a prioritised basis depending on conditions and resources available and only on a specific instruction from the Duty Manager

The Duty Manager should be satisfied that the following criteria are met:

  • The general outlook established from forecasts and other weather information, is that the prevailing ice or snow conditions are likely to continue beyond midday 48 hours after the initial onset
  • The treatment of priority 3 routes should not be detrimental to the level of service required on priority F1 and F2 footways

F4

The remainder of the footway network.

Treatment and times

These footways will be treated only in exceptional weather conditions. Treatment will deal with any remaining areas presenting greater difficulties than general and progressively move onto footway or footpaths of lesser difficulty. A halt to this treatment may be called at any time if, for example, actual or forecast conditions improve or for logistical reasons.

Any treatment on Priority 4 routes will only be carried out during working hours (7:30am – 4pm Monday to Thursday and 7:30am – 12:30pm on Friday). No treatment will be will be carried out beyond these times. Treatment should not be detrimental to the level of service required on routes of priorities F1, F2 and F3 and there should be uniformity in the timing of their introduction in all affected areas.