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| Gritting salt stocks at Southampton docks 'could be wasted' | Gritting salt stocks at Southampton docks 'could be wasted' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A hundred thousand tonnes of road-gritting salt at Southampton docks thought to be worth millions of pounds could go to waste, the AA has claimed. | A hundred thousand tonnes of road-gritting salt at Southampton docks thought to be worth millions of pounds could go to waste, the AA has claimed. |
| The salt was imported from Australia in the winter of 2010-11 when demand across Europe had pushed up prices. | The salt was imported from Australia in the winter of 2010-11 when demand across Europe had pushed up prices. |
| Prices have since fallen and the AA has warned the salt, which was uncovered for more than a year, could deteriorate before it can be sold on. | |
| The Highways Agency said the salt is "perfectly capable of being used". | |
| A spokesman added: "The salt is part of the national strategic stockpile which is kept as contingency in case of prolonged severe winter weather. | |
| "We are confident the country has robust salt stocks and starts the winter with a healthy supply. | |
| The country requires a stockpile of salt large enough to cope with an unexpectedly harsh winter. | The country requires a stockpile of salt large enough to cope with an unexpectedly harsh winter. |
| You will remember a couple of years ago parts of the country were running out during a cold snap - there wasn't enough available to grit all the roads. | You will remember a couple of years ago parts of the country were running out during a cold snap - there wasn't enough available to grit all the roads. |
| The question is whether that stockpile has been well managed, and at what cost to the taxpayer? | The question is whether that stockpile has been well managed, and at what cost to the taxpayer? |
| The industry thinks it is a good thing that we now have more than a year's supply of salt in reserve for gritting the roads. But as everyone knows from keeping table salt at home, it has to be looked after properly. | The industry thinks it is a good thing that we now have more than a year's supply of salt in reserve for gritting the roads. But as everyone knows from keeping table salt at home, it has to be looked after properly. |
| "The salt stored at Southampton... is stored under cover of sheeting and is perfectly capable of being used if required." | |
| BBC South's transport correspondent Paul Clifton said an industry source had told him the salt in Southampton is for sale to councils at £65 a tonne, plus delivery costs. | |
| But fresh salt can be imported for £45 a tonne including delivery and the main salt mine in Cheshire will supply it for £32 a tonne, he added. | But fresh salt can be imported for £45 a tonne including delivery and the main salt mine in Cheshire will supply it for £32 a tonne, he added. |
| The source told the BBC the salt will only last for three or four years before it decays, even if it is covered. | The source told the BBC the salt will only last for three or four years before it decays, even if it is covered. |
| It is currently stored at Southampton's Western Docks, which is believed to be costing the agency hundreds of thousands of pounds each year in payments to dock owners Associated British Ports. | It is currently stored at Southampton's Western Docks, which is believed to be costing the agency hundreds of thousands of pounds each year in payments to dock owners Associated British Ports. |
| AA spokesman Paul Watters praised the agency for stepping in to buy the salt upfront at a time of crisis, but said the wet weather since then could cause the pile of salt, which has only recently been covered, to deteriorate. | AA spokesman Paul Watters praised the agency for stepping in to buy the salt upfront at a time of crisis, but said the wet weather since then could cause the pile of salt, which has only recently been covered, to deteriorate. |
| "Having got it, we have to make sure we use the asset we've got - we need to make sure it is in the right place, in the right condition. | "Having got it, we have to make sure we use the asset we've got - we need to make sure it is in the right place, in the right condition. |
| "I'd hate to think we'd have to ditch this stuff if it is no good." | "I'd hate to think we'd have to ditch this stuff if it is no good." |