Lewisham provides a winter gritting service from 1 December for 15 weeks each year. This involves treating roads with salt both when ice or snow is forecast and after it has formed. Lewisham, in common with other local authorities, receives regular weather updates from the Meteorological Office.
Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for gritting the main trunk roads in the borough e.g. the A2, A21 and the South Circular.
The Council's highways group carries out gritting on non-TfL road surfaces, whilst cleansing services grit the footways. Road gritting is first carried out on a series of primary routes bearing the heaviest traffic, all bus routes, stations, hospitals, major shopping areas and roads with steep gradients.
When the primary routes have been gritted we have a number of secondary routes which include all schools not included on the primary routes and day care centres served by the Council's passenger services organisation. Snow and ice clearance from roads and pavements will be carried out as soon as possible once the depth of lying snow reaches a depth of about 3–4cm.
Where residents tell us of problems on particular roads which are not included on our primary and secondary gritting routes we will add these additional roads to the routes if it is practical.
If, during cold weather, you are concerned that a road or footpath is dangerous due to the presence of ice or snow, you can contact us using the details below or use the online street fault reporting form. We will try to grit these additional areas as soon as is practical but please understand that there may be many areas requiring treatment and our staff will prioritise all calls.
FAQs
Why has my road not been salted/gritted?
If your road has not been salted it means it has not been identified as a priority route.
Does the Council provide salt/grit bins?
The Council has been advised against providing salt/grit bins in case an injury to a member of the public should result from their use. Our experience has been that the bins are frequently vandalised and the salt and grit thrown into neighbouring gardens etc.