Only major roads in Leeds will be gritted from today in a bid to preserve grit stocks, Leeds City Council has said.
The council is no longer salting footways and will also not be gritting secondary routes or refilling grit bins across the city.
According to council chiefs, there is currently enough salt to grit the city's 800-mile primary road network at least twice a day - including just before each morning rush hour - for at least the next 10 days.
But cutbacks have now been made to ensure stocks do not run out before further deliveries arrive.
Councillor Andrew Carter, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "The forecast is for conditions to remain cold for at least another two weeks and we have to ensure we can keep the main roads salted for the whole of this period.
Spotlight on Leeds gritting teams"Given the shortage of salt across the country, it is now essential we conserve salt supplies where possible – which regrettably means we cannot continue with the current level of service.
"We are in a far better position than most other authorities in the region and a delivery of salt is due next week.
Sign up to the Yorkshire Evening Post's email alertsWhat's the weather forecast for Leeds today?"However, the government has now taken control of salt distribution and the planned delivery may not materialise so we have no choice but to take this decision."
Leeds City Council started off the winter with 21,000 tonnes of salt in stock, having used only 20,000 tonnes throughout all of last winter. At 7am on Thursday, only 4,300 tonnes remained.
Since the cold weather started, the city has used an average of 620 tonnes a day, with more than half going on secondary routes, footways, refilling grit bins and lending grit to neighbouring authorities in desperate need of supplies.
People are advised to check www.leeds.gov.uk,
www.leedstravel.info and the Yorkshire Evening Post for all the latest on road and weather conditions, as well as taking extra care when travelling across the local area.
