A REDUCED gritting programme across the county will be in place tonight (Friday January 8) and tomorrow (Saturday January 9) evening, Essex County Council has said. The decision to cut the number of roads that are gritted has been taken following latest

A REDUCED gritting programme across the county will be in place tonight (Friday January 8) and tomorrow (Saturday January 9) evening, Essex County Council has said.

The decision to cut the number of roads that are gritted has been taken following latest forecasts which predict that the cold weather will continue over the weekend and into next week.

The government has announced steps to control the national distribution of salt, so it is imperative that Essex manages supplies carefully.

All A roads, some B roads and other roads serving larger towns and villages will continue to be treated, as well as access to major hospitals, fire and ambulance stations.

Essex County Council will be making every effort to return to treating the full precautionary network on Sunday evening (10th), so that all major routes are cleared in time for the start of a new working week.

Cabinet Member for Highways & Transportation, Cllr Norman Hume, said: "Revising our gritting programme is a decision that I have taken extremely seriously. We appreciate that residents still need to get around the county during the weekend, but we must prioritise our service to keep Essex moving while the icy conditions remain.

"We started this winter from our strongest ever position in terms of readiness for these severe conditions with the highest ever levels of winter salt in stock. Our gritters and crews have been out night and day for three weeks treating 1800 miles of Essex's primary network plus hundreds more miles of high footfall areas.

"We have been receiving fresh supplies of salt and will continue to take operational decisions to maximise the benefits of winter gritting on our roads and footpaths for our residents. I would like to ask the public to take special care on untreated roads, and continue to travel with extreme caution at this time."

The roads covered by the reduced precautionary network are as follows:

All A Roads with the following exceptions

A12 (Highways Agency maintained)

A120 Birchanger Stansted (M11 Junction) to Parkeston Harwich (Highways Agency maintained)

A130 (Howe Green to Rayleigh Spur) Maintained by County Route

The following B Roads

B184 from A11 Stumps Cross to Chipping Ongar

B1383 from A11 Stumps Cross to A120 Bishops Stortford

B1052 from Wendens Ambo to Saffron Walden

B1053 from Saffron Walden to Braintree

B1054 from Radwinter (B1053) to Baythone (A1017)

B1051 from Thaxted to Great Stamford

B1051 from Stansted Mount Fitchet to Thaxted

B1057 from Great Dunmow to Finchingfield

B183 Harlow to Hatfield Heath

B181 Roydon to Epping

B194 from Lower Nazeing to Waltham Abbey

B1393 from Loughton to Hastingwood (A414)

B181 from Epping to North Weald Bassett (A414)

B175 from Stapleford Tawney to Havering Boundary

B172 from Wakes Arms to Abridge

B170 from Buckhurst Hill to Chigwell

B1018 from Braintree to Witham (B1389)

B1256 from Rayne to Braintree

B1022 from Maldon to Colchester

B1023 from Tollesbury to High Street Kelvedon (B1024) between A12 junctions

B1025 from Mersey to Colchester

B1029 from Brightlingsea to Fratings Green

B1033 from Walton-on-the-Naze to Weeley

B1336 from Frinton to Walton-on-the-Naze

B1035 from Manningtree to Thorpe Le Soken

B1018 from A414 Maldon to North Fambridge

B1021 from Bradwell to Burnham on Crouch

B1010 from North Fambridge to Burnham on Crouch

B1012 from North Fambridge to South Woodham Ferrers

B1013 Rayleigh to Southend Boundary

B148 from Dunton (A127) to Nethermayne

B1352 Lawford Mistley and Manningtree

B1352 Ramsey to Harwhich Quay

B1137 Springfield Road

B1007 New London Road

B1008 from Essex Regt Way to Great Dunmow

B1008 Rectory Lane Chelmsford

B1008 New Street Chelmsford

B1008 Broomfield Road

B1008 Main Road

B1002 High Road Ingatestone A12 Junction to A12 Junction Margaretting (Fire Station)

Other Roads

Basildon District

Langdon High Road Basildon

High Road Basildon (A127 to Railway Station)

Braintree District

London Road Braintree from A120 to Pierrefitte Way

Pierrefitte Way Braintree from B1256 to London Road

St Michaels Road Braintree from London Road to South Street

South Street Braintree from Junction St Michaels Road to Rose Hill

Railway Street Braintree from Junction B1256 to Junction with Rose Hill

Podsbrook Road Braintree from A120 to B1256

Colne Road Coggeshall from A120 to St Peter's Road (fire station)

Kings Road Halstead Junction A131 to Parsonage Street

Parsonage Street from Kings Road Halstead to Mallows Field

Mallows Field Halstead from Junction with Parsonage Street to A1124

Rectory Road Sible Hedingham from Junction with Church Street to A1017

Brentwood District

Western Avenue Brentwood (fire station)

Sawyer Hall Road Brentwood (ambulance station)

Chelmsford District

Springfield Road Chelmsford

High Bridge Road Chelmsford

Market Road Chelmsford

Victoria Road South Chelmsford

Duke Street Chelmsford

Coval Lane Chelmsford (ambulance station)

Rainsford Road Chelmsford (bus station)

Hospital Approach Road off Broomfield Road Chelmsford

(Old A130) Howe Green to Rettendon Turnpike

Ferrers Road South Woodham Ferrers from Junction with Inchbonnie Road to B1012

Colchester District

Chapel Road Stanway from A1124 to Police Headquarters

Halsted Road Lexdon from A1124 to Fire/Ambulance Station

Boadecia Way Colchester from Layer Road to Iceni Way to John Kents Avenue

Almstead Road Colchester from Tesco Roundabout to Ambulance Station

Turner Road Colchester from A134 to Mill Road (Colchester A & E Hospital)

Epping District

Oakwood Hill Epping

Valley Hill Epping

Loughton Way Epping

Sewarstone Road Waltham Abbey B194 to A121

Old Station Road Loughton (fire station)

Kingston Lane Buckhurst Hill (fire station)

Harlow District

First Avenue Harlow

Fourth Avenue Harlow

Howards Way Harlow from Junction Second Avenue to Junction A414

Tillwicks Road Harlow from Second Avenue to Southern Way

Hemstel Road to Hospital

Holdings Road to Fire Station

Maldon District

Church Road Burnham

Albert Road Burnham (part)

Queens Road Burnham

Spital Road Maldon from A414 to Wentworth Drive (hospital)

St Nicholas Road (part) to Tillingham Fire Station

Brook Road Tillingham (part)

Rochford District

Castle Road Rayleigh (Fire Station)

Ashingdon Road Rochford from Southend Boundary to Greensward Lane

Greensward Lane from Ashingdon Road Hockley to B1013

Tendring District

Marine Parade Clacton from A133 to Clacton Hospital

Spring Chase Brightlingsea from B1029 to Fire Station

Old Road Clacton from A133 Olivers Road to Wash Lane

Walton Parade from High Street to Church Road

Connaught Road Frinton from Level Crossing to Fire Station

Parkeston Road Parkeston from A120 to Main Road B1352

Uttlesford District

Bardfield Road Thaxted to Fire Station

Birchanger Lane Stansted (ambulance station)