Temperatures may have been unseasonably mild, but when winter strikes Borough of Poole is ensuring it won’t be caught napping.

New gritters, extra grit bins and a fully stocked salt supply are ready for any snow and ice over the coming months.

Following two severe winters, including the worst December for 100 years in 2010, when roads were blocked with snow and refuse collections suspended, Borough of Poole has planned ahead.

It has put in place the following measures: • 1,300 tonnes of road salt in stock – 100 additional tonnes from 2010; • Two new gritters able to carry more than twice as much grit as existing vehicles; • More than 30 per cent increase in grit bins across the borough, taking the number to almost 60; • More salt from neighbouring authorities if required.

The council has a fleet of five gritters on 24-hour standby throughout the winter months in case of ice and snow. They treat up to 120 miles of priority routes in Poole.

With resources of labour, vehicles and salt seriously stretched and the latter in short supply nationally, last year transportation exceeded its wi-nter service budget by nearly £100k.

“In recent years we have not run out of salt,” said Julian McLaughlin, head of transportation services.

“We have used that resource very sensibly.”

Residents’ and councillors’ views have been taken into account in road gritting and siting grit bins, and staff who cannot carry out their tasks such as litter pickers will be redeployed to help clear paths around schools and surgeries.

Last winter rubbish bins were not collected for a week and recycling bins for two weeks. Kate Langdown, waste and fleet operations team manager, said crews took the final decision over whether or not it was safe to operate on a particular street.

“To be stood down isn’t any advantage to them in any way,” she said. “We would ask residents to bear that in mind.”

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for environment and transportation said: “It is impossible to predict what this winter will bring but if and when snow falls or temperatures fall below freezing, I’m confident that we’ll be able to rise to the challenge of keeping Poole on the move.”