Dros y ddau aeaf diwethaf, mae’r stociau halen a gedwir gan Lywodraeth Cymru a’r awdurdodau lleol i drin y ffyrdd wedi cael cryn sylw. Gallaf gadarnhau y bydd gan Gymru o ddechrau’r gaeaf hwn fwy o halen nag erioed o’r blaen. Gan gydweithio â Chymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol Cymru, rydym wedi casglu data i gael gwybod faint o halen a ddefnyddiwyd gan bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru dros y 6 gaeaf diwethaf. Ar ddechrau’r tymor hwn, rydym wedi penderfynu y dylai pob awdurdod lleol gael un waith a hanner yr halen a ddefnyddiwyd ganddo ar gyfartaledd dros y cyfnod hwnnw. I sicrhau bod y stociau halen o fewn cyrraedd ledled Cymru, bydd stociau wrth gefn yn cael eu datblygu a’u lleoli yn y Gogledd, y Canolbarth a’r De, a bydd stociau ychwanegol yn cael eu cadw yn ysguboriau’r M4. Cafodd Contract Fframwaith Cymru Gyfan newydd ei ddyfarnu yn 2011 ar gyfer Caffael Halen, ac mae ar gael i awdurdodau lleol a Llywodraeth Cymru. Bellach gellir cael cyflenwadau gan ddau gwmni sy’n cynhyrchu halen yn y DU a chan un sy’n ei fewnforio. At hynny, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cysylltu â nifer o gyflenwyr a allai gyflenwi halen wedi’i fewnforio os byddai angen dwys.
Considerable attention has been given over the last two winters on the stocks of salt maintained by the Welsh Government and local authorities to treat the roads. I can confirm that Wales will start this winter season with higher level of salt stocks than ever before. Working with the Welsh Local Government Association, we have collated the level of salt used by each local authority in Wales over the last 6 winters. The target figure for salt stock at the start of the season for each local authority has been set at 1½ times their average salt usage over that period. To ensure that salt stocks are accessible across Wales, reserve stocks will be developed and situated in north, mid and south Wales, together with additional stocks being held in the M4 barns. A new ‘All Wales Salt Procurement Framework Contract’, which is available to local authorities and Welsh Government, has been let in 2011. Supplies can now be sourced from two UK salt producers and one importer. In addition, Welsh Government has also made contact with a number of suppliers which in case of urgent need could supply imported salt.