Pupils at a Staffordshire primary school got a surprise when a local gritting crew came to visit.
Matt Eckert, a gritting contractor with Staffordshire County Council, took an hour out of his busy gritting schedule to show pupils at Blackshaw Moor First School around a gritter, along with a talk about the team’s work.
Matt’s team are responsible for keeping the roads clear and safe during the winter in the Staffordshire Moorlands. This includes Flash, the highest village in England, which often sees the worst of the weather.
Pupils got the chance to meet the team, see a gritter up close while learning how the teams keep the roads safe during freezing weather, and the demands of a 24/7 winter service.
Matt said:
“Working on some of the highest and coldest roads in England can be demanding, but visits like this remind us why we do it.
“The children really enjoyed their look around the gritters and were incredibly keen to learn about what we do. They asked some great questions, including how grit works and what it’s like to be the first vehicle to drive on really snowy roads.
“I think it’s important that children learn about how gritting helps keep the roads clear and how they can stay safe in winter. And, you never know, hopefully our visit will help inspire the next generation of gritting crews.”
Samantha Crawforth, Headteacher of Blackshaw Moor First School, said:
“It was absolutely brilliant that Matt and his team came to our school to give the children the exciting opportunity of exploring the gritting wagons and learning more about how the team keeps the roads safe during winter weather.”
”The children really loved the experience and were very proud of the hats they were given, wearing them continually since. We want to say a huge thank you to all involved and thanks for the hard work of keeping the roads clear so that we can get to school.”
Staffordshire has 37 gritters operating across Staffordshire, which oversees the largest gritting network in the West Midlands. Nine weather stations track conditions around the clock, with the council stockpiling over 20,000 tonnes of salt at the start of the season.
Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Our crews have had a busy winter so far and we’re grateful for their work in what is generally very challenging conditions.
“Helping children understand the challenges of winter weather and driving is important and I know they’ll be passing some of what they learned on to their parents. Being prepared and all doing our bit will help us get through winter safely.”
Further details on Staffordshire County Council’s winter operations is available on the website.
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