THE “Brexit effect” that resulted in empty shelves in shops last month and which was blamed on a lack of HGV drivers, could hit Scotland this coming winter with a shortage of drivers for gritting machines.

There has been a rise in vacancies on various job sites for HGV Cat B or Cat C licences, but the gritting operation generally gets underway around October and runs through to April.

We canvassed some of Scotland’s local authorities and found a mixed response.

Highland Council, which usually has to cope with the bulk of Scotland’s snowfall, told us, they had been using Facebook to attract interest in community works operatives’ jobs.

They added: “Applications have just closed for Community Works Operatives to assist in delivering our October to April winter maintenance programme in various locations in Sutherland (Lochinver, Durness, Strathy and Lairg). Main duties include driving for winter gritting and snow clearing, and routine road maintenance activities – minor road repairs, or drainage works. We continue to promote a similar vacant post in the Lochaber area for a Community Works Operative 4 (LGV), Fort William.

“In Highland Council area the role and remit of a gritter driver is generally as part of a team carrying out roads maintenance and construction, drainage etc.

“Winter maintenance, snow clearing and gritting is carried out from October to April and other roads duties are carried out the rest of the year.”

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said that although they were fine for now, they would not become complacent: “We do not currently anticipate any issues around the crewing of our gritters during the coming winter.

“Of course, we will not become complacent and, if required, we can redirect driver resources from across the council fleet to ensure this critical service proceeds.”

A potential shortage of gritter staff is not an issue in Edinburgh as their permanent in-house roads operations team are responsible for driving gritters – so they do not need to recruit.

That was also the case in Scottish Borders Council, where we were told: “We currently have no concerns about a shortage of drivers affecting our statutory responsibilities in relation to winter roads maintenance.”

However, it was a different tale in Argyll and Bute Council, who said: “We are currently experiencing a shortage of gritter and HGV drivers in Argyll and Bute, but we are taking steps to increase resilience through local contractors and utilising staff from other areas of the service.”

The local authority body, Cosla, said it was a potential issue for winter: “Scotland’s councils take their road safety duties seriously and are therefore continually monitoring potential issues ahead of this winter, of which this is one.”