A 'PROCATIVE' instead of a 'reactive' approach to winter maintenance of its car parks is being proposed by Craven District Council.

If approved by all members in August, the council will in future use weather forecasts to act before its 20 car parks and Engine Shed Lane in Skipton become hit by severe weather.

Council leader, Cllr Richard Foster, told the policy committee that the aim was to take a proactive approach to winter maintenance of its sites.

"We shall try to be more proactive and get Engine Shed Lane and the car parks gritted before it actually freezes. We shall get weather reports from North Yorkshire County Council, and hopefully, the situation will improve," he said.

The council is duty bound to make sure that its roads and places open to the public, such as car parks, can be accessed safely and not endangered through snow and ice.

Winter maintenance is currently carried out on a ad hoc basis with response to severe weather and gritting largely unplanned.

In a report to the committee, Ian Halton, the council's assets and commercial services manager, said good practice recommended the 'pre-salting' to prevent the formation of ice.

The council owns 20 car parks across Craven, and Engine Shed Lane in Skipton.

Most of the car parks are flat, although several are sloped and a couple, including at Craven Leisure in Skipton, have fairly steep accesses.

The council has a gritter, which is stored at the Engine Shed Lane depot along with a store of rock salt, and all car parks have at least one salt bin.

"The council currently has no direct access to weather forecast information and to acquire this direct is quite expensive, however agreement has been reached with North Yorkshire County Council who will share their summary information and proposed action free of charge," said Mr Halton.

Mr Halton added the county council's winter maintenance contractor had been asked if they would take on Craven's needs, but it was not interested.