FOI Request - Gritting Decision Records and Road Surface Temperature Data
Request 101003974216
Please provide the following information in relation to gritting
decisions made during the winters of 2023/24 and 2024/25 (October to
March in each case):
1. Any records or logs of road surface temperature (RST) readings at
the time gritting decisions were made, or the forecast RST data used
to justify treatment decisions
2. The decision records or treatment logs showing which routes were
treated, on which dates, and the stated reason or temperature
justification for each treatment
3. Any records showing occasions on which a gritting run was
authorised at a forecast or actual road surface temperature above 1°C
(the stated threshold in the Winter Service Operational Plan), and the
justification for treatment above this threshold
4. The names or roles of officers authorised to make gritting
deployment decisions
Response 05-05-2026
1. This would be our 36hr forecast as supplied daily by our forecaster, Metdesk. We do not hold this data ourselves, as such we do not hold these records and therefore Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) is applicable – information not held.
2. The treatment log aspect of this would be covered by a ‘Treatment Plan and Action Report’. The “stated reason” aspect of this question could only be covered by the Daily Diary. Given the volume of data involved, such as the 460+ diary entries that would need at least 5 minutes of time to access, collate, and redact any personal data from (such as staff names), Section 12 of FOISA – excessive costs – would be applicable, since this would take over 40hrs of work.
3. If any such records exist, they would be contained in the datasets requested already in Q1 and Q2 above, as such to check these would be excessive cost and therefore section 12 is also applicable here. In case it would be helpful, please note that the Service were unable to identify any instances without checking the datasets.
4. Winter maintenance decisions for each 24hrs period are made by staff with the winter role of Duty Officer. We also have staff carrying out a winter role of Duty Supervisor, and they are authorised to vary the planned action if necessary.