A NEW product to give the cold shoulder to icy roads is being put to the test in Droitwich Spa.

Peter Pinfield, Worcestershire County Councillor for the Spa, has welcomed the use of the new road gritting product 'Safecote', favoured in the USA since 1994.

Safecote, which includes quantities of the traditional gritting material rock salt, is said to provide better adhesion to roads.

It also inhibits the corrosive properties of rock salt and will protect the roads, as well as metal structures such as lamps and street furniture, from rust.

Traditional gritting material costs £25 a tonne but Safecote treated salt is an extra £8 for the same amount.

But county council highways manager, Jon Fraser, claims this money will be recouped by gritting less often and by reduced maintenance costs.

He said that if the product proved a success this winter it could be used on roads across the county next year.

Cllr Pinfield said: "We are now entering that time when the weather can take a turn for the worse, with both snow and especially ice on our roads.

"County highways is always on the alert to make sure our roads are kept free running and as safe as can be.

"I am pleased to see Droitwich as one of the trial areas for this new product, which is widely used in other cold countries and has proved most successful. It is more efficient and environmentally friendly than the old traditional rock salt."

He added: "I look forward to the findings but secretly hope we do not have to use it much - but with the British winter I'm not too sure about that!"