The Ayrshire Roads Alliance undertake gritting on its main road network and other important roads.

Generally routes are planned based on the following priority 1, 2 and 3: 

Priority 1:

• Strategic and main distributor routes (A class roads, not including Trunk Roads A77, A78, A76, M77  which are the responsibility of Transport Scotland) 

These routes deemed as being those with a high percentage of school traffic and designated public transport routes provide safe and reliable access to towns and villages, as well as emergency facilities, including Fire and Rescue, Police, Ambulance services and access to hospitals. 

Priority 2:

• Local distributor roads in residential areas including B class roads. These routes are treated as resources permit when sub zero temperatures are forecast to continue beyond midday.

Priority 3: 

• Local access roads in residential areas, minor rural through roads and minor C class roads.

Roads with restricted access,such as cul-de-sac's not treated during post salting actions will be treated as resources permit utilising suitable special plant.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance is responsible for over 2461km of carriageway and over 1971km of footway/footpath.

We do not have the manpower or financial resources to treat this level of asset.

The extent of our gritting of precautionary carriageway network is typical of the level of service provided by other authorities.

Our annually published  Winter Service Plan [PDF 1.28mb]. details our winter maintenance service.

Roads covered in our priority 1 gritting routes are gritted upon receipt of a weather forecast indicating the onset of frost, ice or snow.

• Gritting is carried out prior to the onset of adverse weather conditions.

• Priority 2 and 3 gritting routes are gritted as and when resources are available.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance use a weather forecasting service and decide to treat the network based on the forecast received.

• The decision to treat the road is taken by our Winter Controllers who are on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance have implemented a Gritter Tracking system.

• Gritter Tracking provides details of out of hour winter service operations.

• Gritters can be viewed from 4:00pm.

Private Roads - The owners of the road.

Private Car Parks - The owner/operator of the car park.

Doctors Surgeries - The local practice.

Hospitals - NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Schools - The school is reponsible for all areas within school grounds.

From time to time you may spot a gritter which is not distributing grit. Reasons for this may be:

• When the forecast is marginal our gritting teams patrol the network, monitoring road conditions.

• The gritter may be on part of the network not scheduled for treatment. 

• The gritter may be returning to the depot on completion of the route or to reload with grit. 

It is not possible to meet everyones aspirations with the resources available to treat all of the footways. Ayrshire Roads Alliance encourages self help through the placing of grit bins throughout the roads network.

Footways will be considered for treatment if the forecast is for ice or snow with temperatures to remain below zero until 10.00am the next day. 

• Priority 1 footways include urban shopping areas and precincts and other areas of pedestrian concentration.

We currently have 126 winter resilience groups assisting with self help footway gritting, where we provide training, salt, footway spreading equipment and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), allowing groups to undertake treatments in their local area.

Requests these resources - Winter Resilience Groups

Grit bins are located throughout East and South Ayrshire for your convenience. 

• Find your nearest grit bin, let us know a grit bin is empty or apply for a grit bin on our Gritter Tracking system.

Gritter Tracking has a function that allows you to request a grit bin refill.

• Winter resilience groups should request a grit bin refill by calling or emailing us.

Yes! 

We actively promote winter resilience and work with local groups throughout East and South Ayrshire.

On receipt of a  Winter Resilience Group application we will provide winter equipment, training and personal protective equipment (PPE) to any interested groups who are willing to assist within their community area by gritting local footways and path access.

If you're in East or South Ayrshire small quantities of salt for use on the adopted road and footways adjacent to your property can be collected from grit bins located in your local area.

View our grit bins

If your vehicle has been damaged by a gritter call the Ayrshire Roads Alliance on 01563 503 160 (during working hours) 

If there is a burst water main contact  Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778.