Cumberland Council Launches Competition To Name Five New Gritters
Cumberland Council has relaunched its popular gritter naming competition, inviting residents to suggest imaginative names for five new vehicles joining the county’s winter fleet.
The competition aims to involve local communities in preparing for the colder months while recognising the essential work carried out by highways teams. The five gritters are expected to begin operating on Cumberland’s roads later this winter, helping keep important routes safe and passable when temperatures fall and conditions become more challenging. Residents are encouraged to submit funny, clever and original suggestions before the competition closes in November.
The council has run similar competitions in previous years, with several names becoming familiar to residents. Existing favourites include Mike Zeller Ice Dispeller, La’al Salty, Ctrl SAlt Delete and Gritter Spitter. These names were selected through earlier public competitions and reflect the humour and creativity people have brought to the initiative.
The latest competition will give residents another opportunity to contribute to the identity of the council’s winter fleet. The authority is particularly keen to receive suggestions that demonstrate local character, wordplay or connections to the area, although the final choices will be made by the council after entries have been considered.
Schools across Cumberland are also being encouraged to participate. The initiative provides an opportunity for pupils to develop creative ideas while learning about the work involved in maintaining roads during winter weather. Schools whose suggestions are selected will receive a special visit from one of the newly named gritters, giving pupils an opportunity to see the vehicle up close.
Entries must be submitted by Friday, November 13, 2026. Residents can send their suggestions through Cumberland Council’s social media channels or by emailing the council’s media team at media@cumberland.gov.uk. The council will review the submissions and select the winning names before the five vehicles officially join the fleet later in the winter.
Councillor Denise Rollo, the council’s executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, said previous competitions had become a popular part of winter in Cumberland. She welcomed the creativity shown by residents and encouraged people to submit ideas for the newest vehicles.
Councillor Rollo also highlighted the importance of recognising the highways teams and gritter drivers who work during difficult conditions. Although the naming competition is intended to be enjoyable, it also draws attention to the work required to keep communities connected and roads usable when frost, ice and snow affect travel.
Cumberland Council’s winter service maintains more than 1,500 kilometres of roads across the county. During severe weather, the service treats approximately 42 per cent of the highway network, prioritising routes where gritting can help improve safety and maintain access for motorists.
The operation is supported by around 16,000 tonnes of rock salt stored across the county. Salt is used to help prevent ice forming on treated roads and to improve conditions when temperatures drop. The council also has more than 3,600 grit bins available for communities, providing supplies for use on eligible public roads and footpaths where local arrangements permit.
Gritter drivers and highways staff may need to work overnight or during unsociable hours when weather forecasts indicate that roads are at risk of freezing. Their work involves monitoring conditions and treating priority routes when required, helping people continue travelling for work, education, healthcare and other essential journeys.
The new vehicles will strengthen the council’s existing winter fleet as preparations continue for the colder season. Their arrival comes alongside the wider work undertaken each year to check equipment, maintain salt supplies and ensure that highways teams are ready to respond when adverse weather affects the county.
The council’s Weather Ready information also provides guidance on winter preparedness, gritting routes and staying safe during severe conditions. Residents can use the information to understand which roads are treated and how to prepare for journeys when ice or snow is forecast.
The naming competition offers a straightforward way for residents to take part in the preparations while celebrating the people responsible for keeping roads moving. With five new vehicles requiring names, the council is hoping the public will once again come forward with suggestions that combine local identity and humour.
Winning entries will be selected before the new gritters enter service later this winter. Residents and schools interested in taking part have until November 13 to submit their ideas, with the chosen names expected to join the existing collection of community favourites.
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