Cumberland Council is excited to reveal the winning names for its gritters, chosen through a community-wide competition that showcased the region’s creativity and humour. These names will feature on the vehicles that play a crucial role in keeping Cumberland’s roads safe and passable throughout the winter months.
Joining the fleet are the creatively named “Mike Zeller Ice Dispeller,” honouring BBC Radio Cumbria presenter Mike Zeller, for his years of connection with the area. Residents can stay connected with Mike Zeller Ice Dispeller by following its dedicated Facebook page. Regular updates on its routes, stops, and how it’s helping keep Cumberland’s roads safe will be shared on the page.
The full fleet has been revealed, including “La’al Salty,” a charming nod to local dialect submitted by Lorton Primary School. As part of the celebration, this gritter will make a special visit to the school, giving students a chance to see their named vehicle up close. “Luke Grittler,” inspired by the darts player Luke Littler, “Ctrl SAlt Delete,” a tech-savvy pun, and the cheeky “Gritter Spitter.” These names reflect the community's playful spirit and sense of fun.
The gritters, operated by Cumberland Council’s dedicated Highways team, are ready to tackle over 1,500km of roads this winter, supported by 16,000 tonnes of rock salt stored at depots in Lillyhall, Bootle, Dalston, and Brampton, along with 3,600 grit bins placed across the region.
Cllr Denise Rollo, Executive Member for Sustainable, Resilient, and Connected Places, said:
“These names highlight the amazing creativity and humour of our residents while celebrating the essential work our gritters and highways team do every winter. It’s fantastic to see the community come together in such a fun way, and we’re especially excited to visit Lorton Primary School to celebrate with them.”
For updates on the entire gritter fleet, Cumberland Council will be posting regularly on its official Facebook page (@CumberlandCouncil1) and X account (@CumberlandRoads).
