Grit Awards: Island Roads Fleet Named By Schoolchildren

The six lorries in Island Roads’ new gritting fleet are now proudly bearing new names chosen by children from Island primary schools.

Island Roads asked six primaries from across the Island – one in each district - to put on their thinking caps and come up with a list of names from which Island Roads staff picked he ultimate winner.

It was a tough job sifting through some excellent suggestions but the winning names are now to be seen on the gritting lorries.

The names chosen are:

• District One, Lanesend Primary School - Snow Wight.
• District Two, Hunnyhill Primary School - Vanilla Ice.
• District Three, Wootton Primary School - Sir Grit-A-Lot.
• District Four, The Bay Primary School - Gritty Gritty, Bang Bang.
• District Five, St Catherine’s School - Sleetwood Mac.
• District Six, Freshwater and Yarmouth CE Primary - Salty McGritface.

Island Roads has visited each of the six schools taking part in naming project to introduce the gritters and to talk to pupils about the annual job of keeping the network safe and accessible during freezing weather.

Island Roads grits around 350 kilometres of road on its six main routes.

Around 1,600 tonnes of grit is ready to be spread on the IW highways when the need arises.

That is around half the amount required in an average winter so there is plenty available if needed and more can be ordered if necessary.

Dave Wallis, Island Roads operations manager, said:

“We are grateful to the schools for agreeing to help us name our new gritters and would like to say a particular ‘thank you’ to all the children who came up with some really imaginative names.

“Some suggestions were really creative and staff enjoyed picking the winners.

“The business of keeping the traffic moving at the height of winter is a serious one, but if we can put a smile on a few faces too, then all the better.”

So far this season, the Island Roads gritting fleet has undertaken 31 gritting runs.