Emergency measures were enforced in Britain yesterday to distribute dwindling salt supplies as industry chiefs warned that stocks could run out within four days if the “deep freeze” continues.
The UK Government activated “Salt Cell”, which allows officials to instruct suppliers to send salt to areas most in need irrespective of contract orders. If supplies run out, rock salt will have to be imported from abroad.
The move, coordinated with the Local Government Association and the Highways Agency, came as some councils said that they would run out of salt within 24 hours.
Hampshire, which has received some of the heaviest snowfall in the past few days, said that it was using about 1,000 tonnes of salt per day and only had 4,000 tonnes left.
Ken Thorber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said that it placed an order for more salt in December but that it had still had no confirmed delivery date.
Harrow Council, in London, has only 560 tonnes left and is also waiting for a pre-Christmas order of 1,000 tonnes. Susan Hall, the deputy leader, said: "We'll do what we can, but if salt suppliers don't honour their obligations it doesn't leave us much room for manoeuvre. It's pretty outrageous really."
Ceredigion County Council, in Mid Wales, said that it had 700 tonnes of salt left, which would only last for 24 hours. It was awaiting a delivery from Salt Union, the largest of the UK’s four salt suppliers.
Salt Union has told councils that it has outstanding contracts of up to 300,000 tonnes and was finding it difficult to keep up with demand. A spokesman says that the company’s mines at Winsford, Cheshire, were producing 30,000 tonnes a week. "Demand is running well beyond that.” "Work continues to try and meet the unprecedented demand."
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