Grit supplies in Shropshire are to be diluted with salt in a bid by highways chiefs to ensure there is enough to last the Big Freeze, it was revealed today.

Since the start of the severe cold weather in the middle of November, Shropshire Council has used more than 8,000 tonnes of salt.

Bosses say there is no “immediate problem” with the supply, having built up stocks beyond Government recommended levels.

But with some authorities now experiencing problems in obtaining fresh supplies, the council wants to ensure it has enough salt to last well into the New Year when more will be delivered.

The salt-grit ratio is being changed so that supplies will last longer.

Main roads will continue to be treated with only salt but on secondary routes there will be two to one salt-grit mix. Other roads will be treated with equal measures of salt and grit as will car parks, pavements, and cycleways.

Months

Martin Taylor-Smith, council cabinet member for transport, said: “Unlike some other councils, Shropshire does not have an immediate problem with salt supply.

“However, with possibly another three months of winter weather ahead, we need to ensure that our supplies are used to maximum effect.

“We continue to encourage people to use the grit bins to clear ice and snow outside their properties.

“We have installed about 70 extra bins around the county this year following consultation with parish and town councils.

“We also have a network of more than 100 farmers and contractors with snow ploughs on hand to help clear snow and ice, as and when needed.”

The news comes as Shropshire’s poultry farmers today branded the current big chill as a “nightmare” as they struggled to take care of their chickens and hens with the battle on to keep them warm, fed and watered.

Feed supplies are running low, the hazardous conditions are causing distribution headaches and owners of poultry farms are working overtime to ensure they keep their chickens warm and keep supplies of water available to laying hens.

Nightmare

Barbara Lloyd, at Shady Hollow Garden Poultry in Market Drayton, said it was an absolute nightmare.

She helps husband Stuart to care for 800 hens and said it had been really difficult during this cold spell.

“Luckily we had a delivery of a ton of feed two weeks ago so we are okay for now. But they do need it during the cold weather to keep warm so I am panicking a little about this cold snap lasting much longer,” she added.

David Evans, company director at Cyril Bason in Craven Arms, said they were coping in terms of heating and had prepared for the cold weather. But he said distribution was an issue.

“The driving conditions are proving a problem although we do have the supplies at the moment to keep the birds well cared for throughout this weather. It is ensuring that we can get deliveries out to people,” he added.

“Luckily the office is closing for a week over Christmas so that should give us a break which will enable us to catch-up.”

Suffering

Motorists have been suffering, too, as one Shropshire family was preparing to travel back home today after a three-hour trip to see relatives turned into a 14-hour nightmare.

Janet Owen, from Ellesmere, her teenage children, Mathew and Josie and her father, Trevor, set off at 11.30am on Saturday to visit her brother near Oxford. They finally arrived at 1.30am.

She said: “We didn’t have any problems until we got to Birmingham and as the M5 appeared to be gridlocked we chose instead to head down the M40. But problems there were just as bad. At one point it took an hour and three quarters to travel a mile and a half.”

The family hit major problems when they turned off the motorway, bound for the services.

She added: “No one could get on to the services because lorries had got stuck in the snow. Eventually my dad and Mathew walked and we stayed in the car.”

She said the family amused themselves by playing old fashioned games like I-Spy.

“We are now keeping a careful eye on travel and weather bulletins before choosing the best time to come back to Shropshire,” she said.

And emergency services have faced problems getting to patients.

Firefighters helped a nurse through the snow to reach a vulnerable patient living near Whitchurch and deliver life-saving medication on Saturday.

Other emergency services and the nearest community hospital in Chirk were unable to help so North Wales Fire and Rescue used a 4×4 vehicle to get the nurse and medication to the patient.

The three emergency services in North Wales have been liaising with each other and other agencies during the cold weather.

Their severe weather plan came into effect at the weekend.

Gary Brandrick, senior operations manager for the fire and rescue service, said: “We have been working closely with other agencies for the provision and joint use of 4×4 vehicles, providing support to the health sector as and when needed throughout. Our joint facility at St Asaph has helped close working with police and ambulance as situations developed.”

And the cold weather also hit hospitals with some patients at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital having to wrap up against the bitter cold yesterday.

The hospital had to install extra heating in one of its wards after patients complained about the cold.

David James, director of operations at the hospital, said: “Due to the severe cold weather, the RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital found it necessary to supplement the heating on one of the wards.

“The additional heaters have brought up the temperature to ensure that patients are comfortable during the present cold weather.”

By Emma Kasprzak