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  The message below has been sent to all Parish Councils, Kent MPs, District & County Councillors by the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste
  
  
  This winter has been one of the most severe on record and this has resulted in demand outstripping supply for salt across the country. Kent County Council started the winter season with 23,000 tonnes of salt. We use 13,000 tonnes in an average year, in last year's exceptional winter we used 20,000 tonnes. By the 20th December Kent Highway Services had treated the primary network 50 times; this is twice the amount treated compared with this time last year. We used sea sand last winter and found that it increased grip and traction on icy roads which is why we have continued to use sea sand with great effect this year; this has the added benefit of conserving salt.
  
  As part of our forward planning we placed orders for an additional 4000 tonnes of salt in September, for delivery in January. Our stocks at the beginning of this season were greater than the total salt usage in last season's winter. I have asked officers to plan for a worse winter than last year and whilst I am still confident that we will have adequate salt stocks we shall continue to use salt/sea sand on our primary routes and use sea sand for secondary routes and to refill the grit bins and bags supplied to parish councils.
  
  The situation will be reviewed in the New Year. In the meantime discussions are continuing with our suppliers to ensure that they honour our salt orders.
  
  The assistance we have had from district council staff, farmers and parish and town councils has been invaluable and greatly appreciated by local communities across the county.

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