Report urges alternative salt suppliers to avoid chaos

29 October 2009

The importance of improving procurement and communication arrangements between highways authorities and salt suppliers has been further underlined in a new report.

Councils must expand their list of salt suppliers to avoid running dangerously as some did in February.

The Local Government Association report into last winter’s salt crisis urges councils to acquire knowledge of alternative suppliers, and put in place contingency contracts in the event that supply becomes an issue.

It says the UK is almost entirely reliant on two major suppliers – Salt Union and Cleveland Potash – operating on a ‘just in time’ basis.

The report, Weathering the storm, criticises the suppliers for failing to admit they were struggling to keep up with demand during the severe weather conditions, and recommends revised procurement approaches to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

Cllr David Sparks, chairman of the LGA transport board, said: ‘In a time of crisis, salt suppliers need to be upfront about what they can deliver and when. If they are to keep people moving, councils must make sure there is enough slack in the system for supplying salt.’

'In a time of crisis, salt suppliers need to be upfront about what they can deliver and when. '

Cllr David Sparks, chairman LGA Transport Board

The LGA report advises councils to identify trigger-points which would give advanced warnings of shortages to allow alternative supplies to be secured in the time of crises. Councils should also work in partnership with each other to develop collaborative salt procurement contracts.

The report endorses many of the recommendations made by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) in its government-commissioned review of the lessons learned from last winter’s severe winter weather.

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