A New Winter Approach: Wales

In April 2022, A New Winter Approach brought the winter maintenance industry together in Wales for our first face-to-face event since the Covid pandemic.

Over 50 winter maintenance experts reunited in Newport, Wales for a day of thought provoking talks, knowledge sharing, and peer-to-peer networking.

The conference opened with a keynote speech from Tim Peppin, Director of Regeneration and Sustainable Development from the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).

Tim discussed the work of the WLGA’s Salt Network – why it was formed, what it has achieved and how it was looking ahead to the future, including issues such as climate change and other environmental concerns, the shift in emphasis towards public transport and active travel routes, and lessons from the Covid pandemic.

The conference programme was split into three main sessions covering legislative compliance; sustainable innovations; and a winter weather workshop; with talks from some of the winter maintenance industry’s leading UK brands.

Further guest speakers included Richard Hayes, former Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Highway Engineers, who discussed how legislative compliance affects the winter maintenance industry. While NWSRG Secretary, David Bachelor, provided an insight into what’s new at NWSRG, how the completely revised membership model facilitates greater engagement with highway authorities and how a renewed focus on research and knowledge transfer to best practice guidance will benefit the winter service sector.

It was fantastic to see peer-to-peer networking, with delegates sharing information on their own winter maintenance strategies and experts on hand to offer best practice and guidance.

Our next A New Winter Approach event will take place on Wednesday 19th October in Crewe. Click here to register for your free place.