Councils opt for De Boer’s salt barns as they prepare for winter

A growing number of UK councils have committed to erect De Boer’s purpose-built salt barns in order to keep roads open this winter – offering good news for motorists and great news for council tax-payers.

Salt storage arrangements
Cardiff Council and Derby City Council are the latest bodies to rethink their salt storage arrangements, following on the heels of Trafford Council which recently joined forces with neighbouring authorities in Greater Manchester to transfer salt stocks into a purpose-built barn.

Established supplier
But each decision merely mirrors those of other authorities such as Wigan Council and Milton Keynes Council, which had previously opted to create salt barns in facilities purchased from structure specialist De Boer, a long-time supplier of semi-permanent accommodation to private and public bodies across Europe.

Long-term economies
In Wigan and Milton Keynes the authorities have each predicted long-term economies of more than £1 million merely by moving their salt stores within a De Boer facility. They also expect to be in a much better position to keep motorists moving in the event of wintry weather conditions.

Money-saving approach
Robert Alvarez, Sales Director – Commercial at Brackley-based De Boer, welcomed the company’s ever-strengthening relationship with councils. “Authorities across Europe have come to realise that storing road salt outdoors can be a costly business – particularly at a time when central and local governments are under pressure to save money,” he explained.

Lifespan lasting decades
He added: “Purpose-built salt barns enable councils to prevent salt stores degrading and avoid seepage while also allowing them to switch to cheaper or more efficient gritting substances. By choosing a semi-permanent structure, they gain a further advantage – creating facilities more quickly and cheaply than a permanent building while still having a storage space with an expected lifespan lasting decades.”

Joint facilities
Many councils have also reduced the cost further by erecting a joint facility – as witnessed in the Heads of the Valleys area of South Wales where unitary authorities came together under the leadership of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to create a combined salt storage facility in a De Boer structure.

All Weather Hall
The product of choice among councils has proven to be De Boer’s All Weather Hall, which was originally developed to withstand severe Scandinavian winters. The structure is re-locatable and re-usable and is available with a clearspan width of up to 50 metres. Its rectangular footprint and retaining walls of up to four metres optimise storage capacity at each location.

Roller-shutter doors
The structure also comes with optional additional features such as roller-shutter doors, mechanical extraction systems and advanced lighting and security.

Range of storage purposes
The All Weather Hall has been used by councils and government departments across Europe for a wide range of storage purposes – from salt and minerals to vehicles, plant and machinery.

Construction projects
For Derby City Council an All Weather Hall measuring 20 metres by 35 metres is to be erected by De Boer in the authority’s Stores Road depot, while Cardiff Council has opted for a slightly smaller version – measuring 20 metres by 30 metres – at its own Brindley Road depot. Both construction projects are due to begin in October 2011.

Highways depot
Trafford Council’s All Weather Hall, measuring 20 metres by 35 metres, was completed recently at the authority’s highways depot in Manchester Road, Carrington. It was funded with support from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

Flexibility is important
The flexibility of De Boer’s structures has also proved important for many clients, with the potential for authorities to extend or relocate their salt barns.

Cheaper than alternatives
Mark McCartney, Highways Manager at Wigan Council, explained: “I was impressed that De Boer’s structures had been used extensively in Scandinavia. However, we may move depots in a few years’ time so, if we do, we can take down the salt barn and move it. De Boer was also cheaper than alternatives.”

Effectiveness and cost
However the main motivation for councils has tended to be the ongoing problem of externally stored salt becoming saturated by rain and then freezing, reducing its effectiveness and adding to costs.

Depot installation
Mark McCartney, who oversaw the installation of a De Boer All Weather Hall at a depot in Sovereign Road, Wigan, said: “The salt we were spreading throughout the winter wasn’t really as effective as it should have been. If your salt is open to the weather you’re actually spreading twice as much as you would if it had been kept covered.”

Financial benefits
The financial benefits of transferring salt under cover were typified by Milton Keynes Council which predicted savings of more than £1.6 million over a 25-year period. The De Boer structure at its Bleak Hall Depot means salt reserves are now protected from damaging wind and rain – cutting down on wastage and enabling the authority to switch to more efficient gritting products.

Indoor storage
Milton Keynes Council had estimated that 10% of stock being kept outside was previously lost through seepage. In addition, by moving supplies indoors, it has been able to switch to a form of coated salt that was unsuitable for outside storage but which reduces the rate of spread on roads by up to 40% without affecting performance.

New gritters
As well as reducing the amount of salt being used, this means fewer return journeys to the depot by crews and that two new gritters that would have been necessary in coming years will not now be needed.