A NEW salt store with a 600-tonne capacity has been opened in North Yorkshire, to help keep traffic moving in the Dales this winter.

The Hawes store will stop gritters having to make the 17-mile journey to Leyburn to fill up and is part of the county’s £7m operation for winter.

North Yorkshire County Council has worked with Hawes auction mart to create the store, which has a 25-year lease.

Upper Dales County Councillor, John Blackie, said: “I am delighted that we have established this facility in Hawes, a permanent replacement for the salt store at the Bainbridge Highways Depot closed some years ago.

“The extreme weather in the Upper Dales makes the excellent winter gritting service we have here a lifeline that allows our communities to go about their day-to-day business.

“A local salt store is essential to maintain the service and the auction mart is the ideal location for it.”

The council looks after some 2,750 miles of roads – more than half of the county’s network. It has some 55,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled – and a fleet of 89 gritters.

Executive member for highways councillor Gareth Dadd said: “Dealing with severe winter conditions on such a large network is a complex and expensive operation.

“However, it remains one of our top priorities and once again we are well prepared.”