We are responsible for gritting roads to make sure all main routes in the borough are safe and clear of snow and ice.
We also clear any snowfall and help keep local roads safe and clear for drivers.
See the latest updates on gritting, bus services and waste collections.
Use our Gritter tracker to follow our gritters whilst they are out and about - refresh the map every few minutes to see their progress. Gritters will only show on the tracker when they are actively gritting and will not show if they are carrying out other tasks.
When we grit
Gritting is carried out when road temperatures drop below zero and when the roads are expected to be damp. Gritting is normally done outside peak traffic periods, but during severe weather conditions we may have to grit at all times of day and night.
Follow @grittertweets on Twitter for regular updates.
What roads we cover
Busy roads which have the highest risk of accidents are classed as priority. All A and B roads are gritted along with other important local roads. See our Primary gritting routes map (PDF).
In prolonged snow and ice, more roads may be treated, but only when the priority roads are clear of ice and snow. See our Secondary gritting routes map (PDF)
There are some additional roads that we will grit when we have heavy and prolonged snow fall (PDF).
We also grit footpaths in the town centres and those with the heaviest pedestrian use (PDF).
We have reciprocal arrangements in place with neighbouring Councils to ensure that we all make best use of our gritting vehicles. This means that some of our gritters cross into neighbouring areas, and some of our roads are covered by our neighbour's gritters.
Motorways and trunk roads (the A1, the A421 and the A428 (from the A1 to the Borough boundary) are the responsibility of National Highways.
You can find out more about gritting in our Bedford Borough Winter Service Operational Plan (PDF).
Knowing when to grit
We use a computer system that collects weather and road information at different sites across the Borough. It also tells us if any grit is left on the road from previous salting.
Clearing snow and ice from pavements yourself
The Department for Transport (Dft) has produced a 'snow code' that gives information on clearing snow and ice from the paths outside your home.
Pedestrians and drivers have a responsibility to be careful in winter weather conditions.
See GOV.UK's advice on tips for clearing snow and ice.