St Albans City and District Council has bought a tractor that will be used all year round to transport the market stalls to and from St Peter’s Street in St Albans and in the winter to help clear the snow from paths.

A snow plough and salt spreader have also been purchased to be used with the tractor.

In the event of severe weather conditions, the Council’s contractors, Enterprise, will be able to use the equipment to clear the snow and spread salt on Council amenity areas and key paths in the District. In the past, the Council’s contractors have done this by hand and with the aid of hand-operated salt spreaders.

The equipment has been bought as part of new winter weather plans designed to improve the response to severe weather conditions. Although the clearance of paths is the responsibility of Hertfordshire Highways, the Council has decided to support its work by helping to clear snow from key paths in St Albans and the surrounding towns in the District.

As part of the plans, the Council last year also bought hand-operated salt spreaders for the Parishes so that they can clear paths in their locality when they want.

Marshalswick South Liberal Democrat Councillor Melvyn Teare, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability St Albans City and District Council, said: “The tractor will be in use throughout the year by the markets team who have to bring out heavy stalls from storage and erect them in St Peter’s Street each time a market is held. In addition, it will be used to help clear snow from and spread salt on key paths in the District and council amenity areas. It is part of a number of improvements that the Council has made to deal with severe winter weather conditions.”

More information about the Council’s new winter weather plans is available on the Council’s website at: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/press-room/items/2011/January-2011/newplansresultinimprovementstorefusecollectioninsnow.aspx#0