Winter Maintenance Services
Our Winter Maintenance Team plays a vital role in keeping the city moving throughout the colder months. Each year, from 1 October to 30 April, a comprehensive Winter Maintenance Programme is in place to manage snow, ice, flooding, and other adverse weather conditions. The team also supports the city during emergency events such as flooding and high winds.
Snow & Ice Management
Although heavy snowfall is relatively rare in Portsmouth, our Winter Maintenance Team is fully prepared when it occurs.
Our Drayton depot houses a salt barn with a capacity of 850 tonnes of rock salt, ensuring we are wellstocked ahead of each winter season.
Keeping the city’s transport network safe and accessible is our highest priority. We focus on maintaining clear routes in and out of the city, including:
Major bus routes
Access to hospitals and schools
Train and bus stations
Key commercial and shopping areas
During snow events, Colas prioritises roads based on their strategic importance. Main routes are gritted and salted continuously while snow is falling, before teams move on to secondary roads once conditions ease.
Salt Bins
There are 79 salt bins located throughout Portsmouth for public use. Residents are encouraged to use the rock salt responsibly and only on public areas—not private property.
Flood Management
In addition to managing snow, our teams work proactively to reduce the risk of flooding.
This includes:
A scheduled drain-cleaning programme
Reactive maintenance when drains become blocked
Regular inspections of drainage systems and areas where ponding may occur
Colas inspectors continually monitor for defects or blockages that could affect the effective flow of water.
High Winds
Weather forecasts are monitored daily to identify potential highwind events.
In the event of severe winds, our Highways and Grounds Maintenance teams are available around the clock to respond to issues such as:
Fallen trees
Broken branches
Debris obstructing roads or pavements
OutofHours Support
Colas operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including outside normal working hours. No matter the weather conditions—day or night—our teams are on standby to ensure residents and road users can travel safely across the city.
Useful Winter Tips
Staying Safe When Travelling
During severe weather such as storms, high winds, or snowfall, Colas works closely with Portsmouth City Council to keep residents informed about travel conditions.
If travel is essential, please take extra care:
Drive slowly and allow more time for your journey
Remember stopping distances can increase by up to 10 times in snow or ice
Carry essential supplies in your vehicle, such as:
A shovel
Warm clothing and blankets
Torch and batteries
Drinks and long-life snacks
First-aid kit
Mobile phone and in-car charger
Ice scraper and deicer
Clearing Pavements
For those clearing snow from pathways:
Begin as early as possible—fresh snow is easier to move
Do not use water to melt snow or ice, as it may refreeze and create black ice
Use rock salt to melt snow and prevent refreezing overnight
Pile cleared snow in a safe place, away from pedestrian routes
If rock salt is unavailable, ash or sand can be used to improve grip
Salt bin locations:
