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Harrogate gets mini tractors to boost winter snow response

Friday, 23 October 2026 at 13:40

North Yorkshire Council’s parks and grounds area manager, Tim Allison, executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, and head of highway operations, Nigel Smith.

Mini tractors will be stationed in Harrogate this winter to help clear snow from footpaths and areas larger vehicles cannot reach.

North Yorkshire Council’s new compact machines will be based in Harrogate, Richmond and Scarborough, but deployed to the worst-affected parts of the county during severe weather.

For most of the year, the red tractors will support the council’s parks and countryside team with jobs including trimming flowerbeds and hedges and carrying fencing supplies.

Snow-clearing attachments will allow them to support winter maintenance crews when needed.

They will join a fleet which includes 70 gritters, several snowploughs and snowblowers, with more than 100 farming contractors also supporting the council’s winter response.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said:

“Keeping the county moving throughout the year is a key priority, and we are always looking at ways to strengthen our advanced winter maintenance fleet.

“By investing in these new, versatile mini tractors, we are maximising their use throughout the year and enhancing our response to severe weather.

“The vehicles will be used in town centre and other urban locations which are difficult to access by larger vehicles, alongside our existing fleet of gritters and equipment.

“As the winter gets into full swing, we are reminding road users to take extra care when travelling and check weather conditions before setting off.”

More than 2,700 miles of North Yorkshire’s road network is gritted during the annual winter maintenance programme.

Around 50,000 tonnes of salt is in storage, with about 5,000 salt bins and heaps across the county.

Weather forecasting and road temperature monitoring help crews decide when and where to treat roads.

Gritting teams remain on call 24 hours a day throughout the winter season.

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