TRANSPORT chiefs say they are ready for whatever winter has to throw at them – as a weatherman casts doubt over reports of ‘snowmageddon’.

Transport for Buckinghamshire has 12,500 tonnes of salt worth £350,000 stock pilled around the county ready to be spread on the highways. 10,500 tonnes were used last winter.

TfB receives four weather forecasts every day which are analysed to work out when and where its 25 gritters are deployed.

Forecaster Jim Dale from Hazlemere-based British Weather Service said while national media reports that Britain will face its worst winter in 60 years were “overboard”, Bucks can expect to see the white stuff.

He said: “I would be surprised if there’s Armageddon this side of Christmas. We expect the odd lick of snow between now and Christmas, which is not unusual.

“We will dip in and out - we expect a bit of movement and the second half of winter [will see more snow] as opposed to the first half.

“We’re not ruling out heavy snow but the national press should probably calm that down a little bit. It would be wrong to go overboard now.”

1,405km of highways – 41 percent of the strategic road network incorporating all A, B and important C roads – are on the precautionary salting network. That is reduced to 700km over 12 routes in snow.

Simon Dudley, TfB’s Winter Service Coordinator, said he was confident his team would keep the county moving once again.

He said: “The nationals say the same thing at the weather every year. We are ready, we’ve done a few rounds already – last Tuesday was the first.

“We have 50 core drivers who know what they’re doing and another six that can take people’s places, it’s down to us to manage it properly which I’m confident we will.”

But he warned residents to be sensible when deciding whether to take their vehicles out in severe weather – particularly in Wycombe due to the steep hills and residential roads which can prove difficult to grit.

Residents will be able to get updates and track where gritters have been, and are heading to next on the county council’s website and Twitter feed.

And Mr Dudley is also pleading residents to wave or say thank you to drivers for braving the conditions and untreated roads to ensure motorists are able to get around.

He said: “What the public see is a machine with a flashing orange light driving up and down, but there’s a human being behind the wheel going up and down those hills and valleys.

“These are dangerous roads that obviously haven’t yet been treated. The guys do a fantastic job and they turn out on Christmas Day at 4am, as it’s a 365 day a year service.

“We’ve had stones thrown out our drivers and vehicles in the past – you can’t comprehend it. So please, if you see the guys driving or taking a quick break, say ‘well done’ because they appreciate the feedback.”

Visit www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport and follow @TFBalerts on Twitter.