Cold snap gets warm welcome from salt mines

A CHESHIRE salt mine has ramped up its production to cater for increased demand as a direct result of the recent cold spell.

Middlewich-based British Salt, which is owned by Manchester-based private equity house LDC, said that it has received orders for an extra 8,000 tonnes of its road salt products from local authorities since the New Year.

The news comes at the same time as it was revealed that some councils – like Liverpool City Council – have run out of grit.

David Steven, executive director of British Salt, told TheBusinessDesk that his organisation is expecting a 10% increase in sales over the winter.

He said: “Last year’s cold spell prompted an increase in sales of around 10% of our road salt products and I believe that we will experience something similar again this year.

“At any one time, we tend to carry a constant stock of around 60,000 tonnes of salt which we constantly seek to replenish.

“Normally, we have one truck loading the salt – because of the need to ramp up production we are currently running four trucks.

“Over the festive period, we have been emailing authorities across the country to let them know that we are here to help them with our road salt products if they need it.”

British Salt employs 125 staff at its Middlewich headquarters and last year had a turnover of £30m.

It produces 800,000 tonnes of salt each year which are used in foods such as potato crisps as well as chemicals and animal feeds – as well as for salting roads.

It was reported yesterday that Liverpool City Council ran out of grit, requiring it to borrow 30 tonnes from Wirral Council.

But a statement released by the Highways Agency said that salt levels continue to “meet demand”.

A spokesperson said: “Local authorities have told us that they have increased their salt stocks at the start of the season compared to last year and they have been re-stocking following the severe weather over the Christmas and New Year period.

“Any localised shortfalls in salt should continue to be met through mutual aid from local authorities or the Highways Agency. As a result of the forecast continued severe weather, we are regularly monitoring supply and stock levels across the country with the help of our agencies, local authorities and the companies which supply salt.

“This will ensure that the supplies of salt are managed in a way that will benefit as many as possible.”