Highway Maintenance

Road salt (grit) bins

There are now over 3000 blue or yellow bins filled with salt and/or grit for use in the community on public roads and pavements. They are not provided for private use.

The location of each salt bin can be seen on the salt routes online map:

Where to use the salt

The salt / grit in the community bins is for use only in the community – on public paths, pavements and roads and not for private use on driveways or garden paths. At times of prolonged severe weather, the priority of the winter maintenance teams is to salt the main roads and we may not be able to refill the salt bins as quickly as at other times.

Who can use the salt?

Anyone can use the salt / grit to put on the roads or pavements. This can be particularly useful for example, to ‘join up’ salting from the main road carried out by County Council salting vehicles - to smaller access roads or on the pavements to the local school.

How much salt to use?

One tablespoon of salt (20 grams) is sufficient to treat one square metre of road / pavement surface. Please use the salt carefully – overuse will result in it being used up too quickly.

How do the bins get refilled?

We will refill the salt bins as soon as reasonably possible, and in bad weather we will endeavour to fill up empty bins on route.

At times of prolonged severe weather, the priority of the winter maintenance teams will be to salt the main roads and we may not be able to refill the salt bins as quickly as at other times.

Bins will not be refilled where people have taken the contents for their own personal use, and Hampshire County Council reserves the right to remove bins where the contents are being continually taken for private use.

Who decides where the bins go?

Requests for salt bins are submitted to Hampshire County Council by parish councils,  community groups, and local district/borough/city councils. Requests should meet certain criteria:

  • The bin must not obstruct sight lines
  • Bins are normally be placed on highway land
  • There must be sufficient space for the bin and for the bin to be refilled
  • The bins will be placed in areas of significant pedestrian and traffic use
  • The bins will be placed in places near to where there is a significant slope.

Can I request a Salt Bin?

If you think it would be beneficial to the community to have a new salt bin, please talk to your local district/borough/city council, or parish council, or community group. Alwho can submit a request to the County Council.

How do I find a contact for my local parish council?

A full list of town and parish councils is available:
Parish and Town Council Web Sites

Clearing snow and ice from pavements

Tips on clearing snow and ice from pavements yourself - official Government advice.
Clearing snow and ice from pavements (external site)