Basingstoke ploughed on despite the return of the snow that brought the borough to a halt last year.
Up to six inches of snow and temperatures of -6°C turned the borough into a winter wonderland last week.
Youngsters across the borough enjoyed a two-day holiday as the majority of schools shut their doors during the big freeze.
Last winter’s blizzard plunged Basingstoke into chaos, with residents being forced to abandon cars and an AA spokesman dubbing the town as being 'like a disaster zone'.
However, Hampshire County Council gritters took to the roads as soon as snow was forecast on Wednesday, laden with the 18,000 tonnes of grit stockpiled since September.
Salt-spreaders worked around the clock, with 45 vehicles treating priority routes across the borough. After salting A-roads and motorways, which handle up to 85 per cent of traffic, spreaders focused on trying to open up community routes.
These roads were prioritised to open up access to health centres, schools and single access villages. Routes serving Sherborne St John, Popley, Kings Furlong and Hartley Wintney were among those treated.
Since last year, 245 new grit bins were installed throughout the borough, with 195 filled up by the time the snow hit.
Deputy mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Phil Heath last year attacked the slow response to the freeze. This time, he praised the local authorities for their swift action during the severe weather.
He said: “For me, the result is much better than last year and the borough seems to have handled the snow and kept moving.”
However, in a letter to the borough council he said that salting should focus on footpaths.
“Gritting bus stops is no good if you do not grit the main paths to them,” he said. “Last year, residents could not safely walk the paths to and from the bus stops. Gritting certain areas does not work if people can't safely get to them.
“Businesses and shops need to know that they can keep on going through the winter. If they do not have a good Christmas, then they are not going to get through the tough times.”
Council corporate director, Karen Brimacombe said: “I agree that it would be helpful if footways to and from bus stops and local centres, parades and shops could also be cleared of snow and ice. But I also recognise the need to prioritise and target resources.
“Where Basingstoke and Deane is able to assist the county council we do so, often supplementing their operations by clearing snow and gritting routes leading to key facilities, such as health centres, surgeries, local shops and centres and sheltered housing facilities.”
