Getting to grits with new name

NAME game . . . the new gritter waiting for a name

OLDHAM Council has added a new gritter to its fleet - and didn't want it to feel left out...

So after holding a competition two years ago for primary school children to 'prove their salt' in a name the gritter competition, they've issued the challenge again.

Youngsters did a great job of coming up with imaginative names for the eight vehicles and council chiefs are wanting a similar result for the new addition.

Whenever there has been a cold snap, Freddie Salted, Grittersaurus, Goliath, Walter the Salter, Gritterbug, Gritney Spears, Gritanator and Thor have been out helping to keep the borough's roads moving safely when the snow and ice has appeared.

To enter, visit oldham.gov.uk/winter and give your suggestions along with your details. You can send in one name or as many as you want.

Once the winning entry has been chosen, the gritter will then be branded with its new name on the front of the cab. The council will also be inviting the winner along to be photographed with the machine they have named.

They'll then be able to look out for the vehicle as it travels around the borough spreading grit and salt.

The competition is open to primary school age children who either live in Oldham or attend a school in the borough. The closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday, November 30.

Councillor Fida Hussain said: "We had a great response to our name the gritter competition a few years ago and hopefully we'll get the same this time around.

"Our fleet of gritters and their drivers play a vital role in helping to keep the borough moving and in recent years they have gritted thousands of miles of adopted highway during cold spells."

As far as reasonably possible, the council will keep the primary highway network free of ice and snow in order to help ensure a safe journey for commuters and residents.

Resources are initially directed to gritting seven priority routes, including the trans-Pennine roads and most of the principal, classified and major bus routes.

Informed

To keep residents fully informed of any developments, the Oldham Council website - oldham.gov.uk/winter - will be updated continually and feature the latest news on school closures, gritting routes, locations of grit bins and grit sales.

The First Response service will use its Twitter account @oldhamalert to inform followers of school and road closures or incidents.

These will also be retweeted for residents using the council's account @oldhamcouncil and updates will appear via the local media.