SALT shortages are hitting Merseyside, with some councils left with dwindling supplies that will only last for the next week.
St Helens Council only has enough salt for one more day of severe winter weather and five days of “normal” weather.
Sefton has enough for only four gritting runs on the borough’s roads and Halton for one week.
Southport’s icy roads are set to be treated with a “less effective” mix of salt and sand to make supplies go further.
Sefton’s deputy chief executive Alan Moore said: “Until such time that salt supplies are again available to us, we need to prolong our supplies of salt by mixing it with grit sand.
“Clearly this will reduce the amount of salt we use, which will make it somewhat less effective, but it is hoped that the sand element will provide an element of grit.”
The council has already raised concerns with the Government Office for the North West, which is coordinating salt supplies.
A spokesman for Sefton Council said: “Like most local authorities across the region and the country, a supply shortage means our salt stocks are now very low. We currently have enough salt for approximately four gritting runs – but how long this lasts depends entirely on the weather.”
Supplies have been running critically low as the forecasters predict more snow and ice on the way for the North West.
Merseyside, like huge waves of the country, has seen snowfall alongside freezing temperatures averaging -5 degrees.
It has left many councils struggling with salt supplies as the Highways Agency advised them to only grit essential main roads.
The Government has also taken charge of salt supplies, prioritising areas worst hit by the weather.
St Helens has been told not to expect any new deliveries of salt unless permitted by the Government.
A spokesman said: “We have been forced to prioritise our efforts to gritting the carriageways only.
“We are sorry we cannot refill grit bins until a new delivery is permitted. We apologise, we have not been able to respond to all requests for extra gritting and filling of grit bins, and hope that residents understand that the emergency measures taken by Government are necessary to help the UK’s national response to the extreme weather experienced by a number of regions.”
In Halton, additional stocks of salt have been ordered but delivery dates aren’t yet known.
Liverpool has around 300 tonnes of salt left and Wirral has enough immediate supplies having taken a delivery earlier this week.
Nationally, the Government has been bringing in salt from Italy, Tunisia, Spain and Germany amid continuing concerns over shortages.
Forecasters have said the worst of the winter weather is over but are still predicting snow across northern areas and Wales with freezing temperatures set to continue for the next week.
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