UPDATE ON WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS

The current weather forecast indicates that temperatures in Argyll and Bute this evening will be similar to the earlier part of the week.

They are likely to climb over the next few days, but only to around freezing point during the day and below freezing at night.

The 15 day forecast suggests that temperatures will continue to hover around freezing so the snow, ice and night frosts will dominate.

All main roads in Argyll and Bute are open but two minor roads on Mull (the B8073 Ensay/Kilninian and C46 Glen Bellart) and two minor roads in Kintyre (the B842 on the steep hill just south of Grogport and the U10 at Glen Breakerie) are closed.

We will continue our winter maintenance treatments dealing with our roads on a priority basis. The main, strategic routes will be treated first before more minor routes are covered as and when resources permit.

Continued treatment of pavements will also be undertaken when resources permit.

The level of salt available in Scotland has featured heavily in the media this week.

In Argyll and Bute, we currently have some 1,350 tonnes in stock, with more being delivered on Monday to take the stock level to about 2,200 tonnes.

Since the middle of December, we have used 10,000 tonnes of salt and an additional 3,000 tonnes of grit/sand to supplement treatment operations.

We recommend that you continue to give yourself more time to make your journeys. Roads and pavements may have been treated but there is still a risk of ice, especially in these weather conditions.