ESSEX County Council is cutting back on its gritting programme to focus only on major roads.

The council's gritting fleet are operating on a reduced schedule today (January 8) and also tomorrow evening.

All A roads will still be treated, as will some B roads, and access roads to hospitals, fire and ambulance stations.

County councillor Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “Revising our gritting programme is a decision that I have taken extremely seriously. We appreciate that residents still need to get around the county during the weekend, but we must prioritise our service to keep Essex moving while the icy conditions remain.

“We started this winter from our strongest ever position in terms of readiness for these severe conditions with the highest ever levels of winter salt in stock. Our gritters and crews have been out night and day for three weeks treating 1,800 miles of Essex’s primary network plus hundreds more miles of high footfall areas.

“We have been receiving fresh supplies of salt and will continue to take operational decisions to maximise the benefits of winter gritting on our roads and footpaths for our residents. I would like to ask the public to take special care on untreated roads, and continue to travel with extreme caution at this time.”

FULL LIST OF GRITTED ROADS IN THE EPPING FOREST DISTRICT

B184 from A11 Stumps Cross to Chipping Ongar

B181 Roydon to Epping

B194 from Lower Nazeing to Waltham Abbey

B1393 from Loughton to Hastingwood (A414)

B181 from Epping to North Weald Bassett (A414)

B175 from Stapleford Tawney to Havering Boundary

B172 from Wakes Arms to Abridge

B170 from Buckhurst Hill to Chigwell

Oakwood Hill, Loughton

Valley Hill, Loughton

Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill

Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey B194 to A121

Old Station Road, Loughton

Kingston Lane, Buckhurst Hill