Winter Weather Update

Here's the latest updates from Cheshire East Council about bin collections, road gritting, libraries and family hubs...

Bin collections:

Due to the adverse weather conditions across Cheshire East, so far today it has not been safe or possible for our crews to carry out bin collections.

We are waiting for the conditions to improve and will update residents with more information as soon as possible.

The adverse weather conditions are forecast to last for the week commencing 5 Jan and may impact other collections scheduled for this week.

Where safe to do so, please put your bins out on your scheduled collection day and we’ll continue to keep residents updated. Thank you for your patience.

Roads:

Our gritters have been out across the borough this afternoon and will also be back out from 3am.

Our highways teams continue to work around the clock to help keep Cheshire East moving during the current period of severe cold weather.

Over the past 24 hours we have gritted 4,222 miles (6795 km) of the network, using 656.68 tonnes of salt.

In the high east of the borough where snow ploughing is often needed, such as the Cat and Fiddle area, our specialist supply chain including hill farmers have been out throughout the period, and additional treatments were carried out on our strategic routes this morning.

Weather conditions have been particularly challenging, with some parts of the borough experiencing temperatures as low as –12°C overnight.

Salt becomes less effective below –5°C and stops working altogether at around –8°C. For salt to work properly, it must be spread before ice forms and then driven over to activate it.

Please remember that not all roads in the borough are gritted. In line with national guidance, our routes are prioritised based on risk.

This means we focus on key roads, bus routes, and access to essential services such as hospitals and schools, ensuring our resources are used where they have the greatest impact.

Although we cannot treat every road, our gritting network covers 678 miles (1,091km) – around 40% of Cheshire East’s entire road network.

Our gritters use computer‑controlled salt spreading systems and only spread salt where required. If you see a gritter travelling but not spreading, it is likely making its way to the start of a route or returning to the depot to refill.

All Cheshire East Council maintained grit bins across the borough are filled as part of our pre‑season preparations. They may be refilled once more if there is a prolonged period of severe winter weather and resources allow, but they are not topped up on an ad‑hoc basis.

Please only travel if necessary. If you do need to travel, take extra care – particularly on untreated roads.

More information about our gritting routes

Libraries:

All libraries across Cheshire East have been closed today. 

Family Hubs:

Coppenhall Family Hub, Oak Tree Family Hub and Nantwich Children's Centre have been fully closed today. Groups at Crewe Lifestyle Family Hub will not be going ahead.