Transport minister makes visit to Boulby mine to see salt stockpiles for gritting UK roads

Transport minister Robert Goodwill says there are bigger salt stockpiles for gritting the UK’s roads than ‘ever before’ after visiting Boulby mine.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport toured the mine to see for himself the measures put in place to keep Britain’s motorists safe, as they brace themselves for the bad winter weather.

And bosses at the ICL-operated mine - which is one of the largest suppliers of gritting salt in the UK - say they are well prepared, with many contractual supply obligations already honoured.

Mr Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, is responsible for making sure the nation’s roads stay open in severe weather.

He visited the mine on the east Cleveland coast to view their operations and to ensure Cleveland Potash, which operates the mine, has done everything in terms of supplying highway authorities with salt.

After the visit, Mr Goodwill said: ”Suppliers like Boulby mine are crucial for maintaining our salt stocks at a healthy level and keeping Britain moving in the event of extreme weather.

“There are bigger stockpiles for gritting roads than ever before.

“Around 1.7 million tonnes of salt are available across England this winter to ensure we are prepared.”

David Zvida, Managing Director at the mine added: “We welcome the visit of the Minister as we take our role in ensuring Britain’s roads stay open in severe weather very seriously.

“We have already fulfilled many of our contractual obligations to supply various authorities with the salt they need to keep their roads open – whatever the weather throws at us this winter.”