Get winter ready with free grit and new grit bins across Richmond

We are helping residents get ready for icy weather this winter, with free rock salt available to collect and 25 new grit bins installed at key locations across the borough.

Residents can collect up to 50kg of free rock salt from our depot on Langhorn Drive, Twickenham, from Monday 16 to Friday 20 November, between 9am and 3pm.

The annual giveaway is part of our wider preparations to help keep Richmond safe and moving when temperatures fall. New for this year, we have installed 25 additional grit bins in key locations across the borough, giving communities greater access to grit when icy conditions hit.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of Transport and Air Quality Committee, said: “Keeping Richmond safe and moving during cold weather is a priority, and we want to make sure residents are well prepared when temperatures drop.

“With hundreds of miles of roads and pavements across the borough, we have to prioritise the routes and locations where our winter gritting service can have the greatest impact. That is why we are also helping residents and communities to be prepared.

“This year, we’re adding 25 grit bins across key locations the borough alongside our free rock salt giveaway. Together with our gritting service, these measures will help us respond to icy conditions and give residents more ways to help keep their local areas safer.

“I encourage residents to collect their free grit and make sure they are ready before the colder weather arrives.”

Our winter service runs throughout the colder months. From November to March, we carry out precautionary gritting to prevent the build-up of ice on selected roads across the borough, helping to keep key routes safe and accessible.

During periods of heavy snow, we also clear selected footways, pavements and smaller roads. Priority locations include footways in town centres, station forecourts, footbridges and areas near or next to schools, care homes and hospitals.

Residents attending the free grit giveaway are reminded that the depot is a secure site. You will need to sign in at the gate reception. Please bring photo ID and proof of address when collecting your supply.

Find out more about the Council’s winter gritting service, including information about gritting routes, locations of the new grit bins and how we keep the borough moving during winter weather.