Gritters need names too!
People across Shropshire are being asked to help name the county’s gritters – again – before they hit the roads this winter.
Two years ago people were invited to suggest names for the 25 gritters in the Shropshire Highways fleet – and hundreds of suggestions were made, before 24 names were chosen in a public vote – with over 2000 votes cast. The 25th gritter was named after Broseley schoolboy Zac Oliver.
Earlier this month, 17 of the gritters were replaced with brand new vehicles – vehicles that don’t have names. So, once again, people are being asked to put on their thinking caps and put forward their suggestions.
And, so that the other eight vehicles in the fleet don’t feel left out, they are going to be renamed too.
Three of the gritters will continue to be named after local youngsters Zac Oliver, Charlie Desmond and Jack Edwards – leaving 22 names to be found.
Suggestions can be made via the Shropshire Council twitter (@shropcouncil)), on Shropshire Council’s Facebook (/shropshirecouncil), or by sending an email to gritters@shropshire.gov.uk.
People of all ages can enter, and schools are being encouraged to invite their pupils to put forward their ideas and then submit entries on behalf of the school.
The closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday 4 November.
All suggestions will be shortlisted by a team of ‘experts’ and the best/most popular names will go through to a public vote on the Shropshire Council website in mid to late November, when people will be able to choose their favourites.
The 22 gritters will then be given their new names in time for winter.
The five most popular names in the 2018 vote were:
- Gritty Gritty Bang Bang – 1246 votes
- Frosty the Snow Van -1101 votes
- Spready Mercury – 1080 votes
- Gritty McGritface – 1018 votes
- Usain Salt – 1004 votes