The recent winter conditions experienced in the UK were some of the worst on record, and many councils were left completely unprepared for the effects caused by the snow and ice. Many councils ran out of grit, having built up very low stores, and many major roads were rendered unusable as the country came to a standstill.
Wrexham, in North Wales, was one such area, but Wrexham Council has taken measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again; measures that include the purchase of snow ploughs to be fitted to quad bikes in order to help clear the paths and roads from snow. Quads are also being fitted with gritting units to help grit the areas that gritting lorries cannot reach.
This isn’t the first use Wrexham Council has made of quad bikes either, as they’ve used ATVs previously for tending to green areas by equipping them with weed killer and spraying the parklands.
The idea to use quad bikes to help battle the wintery conditions was one of many ideas that Wrexham Council devised in the wake of the harsh winter. One of the other proposals being adopted by the council is to increase its store of salt to grit the roads. It will now hold 7,000 tonnes instead of just 4,000 tonnes.
Oxfam volunteer Graham Jones commented on how the quad bikes would make it easier for locals to get about:
A lot of our customers come down from Gwersyllt and Brymbo, and they had problems getting in.
Our sales went dramatically down with the bad weather, so I think it would be a good idea.