Richmond residents will be able to collect free rock salt later this month as the borough prepares for icy weather, with 25 additional grit bins also installed in locations across the area.
The collection will take place at the council depot on Langhorn Drive in Twickenham from Monday 16 November to Friday 20 November, between 9am and 3pm. Residents can collect up to 50kg of rock salt.
The depot is a secure site. Anyone collecting a supply will need to sign in at the gate reception and bring photo identification and proof of address, the council says.
The giveaway is an annual initiative rather than a new service. The council said that more than 17,500kg of rock salt was collected by residents during the November 2025 giveaway. It offered further supplies during a cold spell in January 2026.
Where the new bins are located
The council says it has installed 25 additional bins at key locations around the borough. Its published list includes Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes, the Kew Gardens station footbridge, Hill Rise in Richmond and Somerset Road in Teddington.
Other listed locations include Hospital Bridge Road in Heathfield, Harvey Road in Whitton, Mearway in West Twickenham and a footbridge at Craneford Way and Marsh Farm in South Twickenham. The list is organised by ward on the council’s road-gritting webpage.
A separate council webpage for ordering a grit bin or refill says that service is no longer offered. The notice does not establish that existing bins will not be refilled, and the new announcement does not explain how refills will be arranged.
How roads and pavements are prioritised
The bins and collection sit alongside the borough’s winter gritting service. The council says it treats selected roads as a precaution from November to March to help prevent ice building up. It publishes a searchable list of those roads, including George Street in Richmond, Heath Road in Twickenham and Broad Street in Teddington.
That does not mean every road or pavement will be treated. During heavy snow, the council says it also clears selected footways and smaller roads. Its priority locations include town-centre footways, station forecourts, footbridges and areas near schools, care homes and hospitals.
Footways and roads on steep slopes or inclines are also identified in the council’s service information. Smaller roads are gritted after the precautionary roads have been treated and there is some certainty that they will remain open.
The council’s published winter service plan for 2025–26 described priority routes as including bus routes, main feeder roads, hills and known cold spots. It also noted that some narrow residential roads with heavy on-street parking cannot be treated by mechanical gritters. The plan relates to last winter.
Clearing snow safely
National guidance advises people clearing snow to work early where possible, while it is still loose. It warns against using water because it can refreeze into black ice, and advises taking care not to move snow where it would obstruct paths or drains.
Salt can help treat a cleared area, while sand or ash can provide grip if there is not enough salt. The guidance also says not to take salt from roadside bins for private paths unless the local council advises otherwise, because it may be needed to keep roads clear.
Featured image: AI-generated illustration.
