How Many Roads Do Gritters Cover in Wakefield? A Look at Wakefield Council’s Winter Team

As the frost finally melts and we can swap boots for trainers again, Wakefield Council is giving a well-earned round of applause to the folks behind the scenes who kept things ticking during winter—their gritting team. And honestly, they’ve been busy. We’re talking nearly three thousand tonnes of grit spread and 24,000km of road covered since the cold set in. That’s like driving from Wakefield to Sydney and back. Twice.

So if you’ve ever wondered how the roads stay so clear when everything else is frozen solid—well, it’s not magic. It’s people in yellow jackets, working round the clock, in the dark and cold, so the rest of us can get to work, school, or the shops safely.

A season of grit—literally

The team have just wrapped up their season, and here’s what they pulled off:

• 2,949 tonnes of grit spread on local roads
• 24,000km of routes gritted (that’s almost the entire way around the Earth)
• 384 grit bins refilled for residents to use

Behind those numbers are 36 drivers, taking turns to work 24/7 shifts, especially during those horrible icy mornings. If you’ve ever seen a big yellow truck rumbling through your street before sunrise, that’s them doing their thing.

And they didn’t do it alone. There are six controllers and assistant controllers who kept an eye on weather forecasts like hawks. Their job? Decide when to send the gritters out before the roads turn into ice rinks.

Not just the main roads

You might think gritting is all about the big A-roads and dual carriageways, but it’s actually a lot more local than that. Around 40% of Wakefield’s roads are treated as priority routes—mainly the ones that buses, emergency services, and most commuters use.

But what about smaller streets and estates where gritters can’t always get through? That’s where Snow Wardens come in.

Snow Wardens: local heroes with shovels

If you’ve never heard of them, think of Snow Wardens as your street’s winter superheroes. These are local residents who volunteer to help keep footpaths and side roads safe. The council gives them grit, gloves, a snow shovel, and a hi-vis jacket—and off they go.

Whether it’s clearing the pavement outside a school or spreading salt on a steep street corner, they’re out there making life easier for their neighbours. And anyone can join. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind getting your hands a bit mucky and helping out when the weather turns, Wakefield Council would love to hear from you.

To sign up, you can call 0345 8 506 506 or head to wakefield.gov.uk/winter.

Always on standby

Just because the sun’s out doesn’t mean the team are off-duty. According to the council, staff are still on standby in case the weather decides to throw a surprise snowstorm our way. (Because let’s be honest, British weather loves a plot twist.)

Cllr Matthew Morley, who handles planning and highways, put it best:

“Our dedicated winter team have worked hard throughout the colder months to keep our roads safe. We’re very grateful for their commitment to turn out, night or day, in freezing and sometimes snowy conditions.”

And speaking about the Snow Wardens, he added:

“A huge thank you to them and everyone else who has helped us during the winter months. If you are able to come and join our army of Snow Wardens, please get in touch.”

Why it matters

We don’t always think about the gritters or wardens unless something goes wrong—like when we’re slipping around on untreated roads. But it’s exactly because of teams like this that things don’t go wrong. School runs happen. Ambulances get through. Shops stay stocked. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes efforts that just works.

So if you see one of those yellow trucks out next winter, maybe give it a wave. Or better yet, think about joining the Snow Warden crew. You don’t need to be super fit or outdoorsy. Just willing to help out when things get icy.

And for now, let’s just enjoy the fact that we can go outside without three layers and frostbite warnings.