Argyll and Bute council have set plans in motion to keep the area open for businesses throughout the winter months.

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure committee approved a new set of priorities on Thursday, September 12.

Once temperatures are forecast to plummet, the council will treat 32 routes which make up 54 per cent of the road network – the highest average of all other local authorities.

To achieve this, the council has 32 frontline vehicles, plus another 10 back-up vehicles that can be brought into use if conditions demand.

Additional trailer gritters to be used with pick-up vehicles are to be procured for the islands of Tiree, Coll, Colonsay and Lismore.

Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services, said: “I’d like to thank our roads workers who, year in and year out, come to work on the icy roads, in the dark, to make sure the rest of us can get to our daily commitments as safely as possible.

“We grit as many roads as possible, but the main routes always take priority. Remember the salt does not actually melt the ice on the road; it mixes with the moisture on the ground to create a saline that has a lower freezing temperature than water.

“This only starts to work as the salt breaks down due to traffic going over it to break it up. This means that, even although we may have treated the roads, the surface can still be very icy until this process has time to work, and we would urge people to continue to drive with caution and be safe.”

Members of the public are encouraged to do their bit by using grit bins to treat areas not normally included such as footways and paths.

To ensure action is taken quickly, the council has a team who analyse local weather forecast data so they can treat the roads appropriately the following morning.

For more information on weather, daily road treatment plans, and to watch the road cameras, you can go the council’s website.