A heated valve (4; 10), comprising: a valve body having an inlet, an outlet downstream from the inlet and a valve section fluidly interposed between the inlet and the outlet; a valve element operably disposed within the valve section to assume and move between at least a first position at which fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is prevented by the valve element and a second position at which the fluid communication is permitted, wherein the valve element comprises a valve plate and a drive shaft configured to drive movements of the valve plate; and a heating system in operable communication with at least one of the valve body and the valve element and configured to melt ice that could prevent movement of the valve element between the first and second positions; wherein the heating system comprises: a heating element (130,132) operably disposed within at least the valve body; a power source coupled to and configured to activate the heating element (130,132) to generate heat; a valve plate heating element disposed to heat the valve plate; and a coupling configured to electrically connect the valve plate heating element and the power source during movements of the valve element; characterised in that the valve body comprises first and second layers (1101,1102) and the heating element (130,132) comprises a resistance wire (130,132) interposed between the first and second layers (1101,1102), wherein a highly thermally conductive foamed metallic material is charged into an annular space defined between an exterior surface of the first layer and an interior surface of the second layer to fill space not otherwise occupied by the resistance wire. a valve body having an inlet, an outlet downstream from the inlet and a valve section fluidly interposed between the inlet and the outlet; a valve element operably disposed within the valve section to assume and move between at least a first position at which fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is prevented by the valve element and a second position at which the fluid communication is permitted, wherein the valve element comprises a valve plate and a drive shaft configured to drive movements of the valve plate; and a heating system in operable communication with at least one of the valve body and the valve element and configured to melt ice that could prevent movement of the valve element between the first and second positions; wherein the heating system comprises: a heating element (130,132) operably disposed within at least the valve body; a power source coupled to and configured to activate the heating element (130,132) to generate heat; a valve plate heating element disposed to heat the valve plate; and a coupling configured to electrically connect the valve plate heating element and the power source during movements of the valve element; characterised in that the valve body comprises first and second layers (1101,1102) and the heating element (130,132) comprises a resistance wire (130,132) interposed between the first and second layers (1101,1102), wherein a highly thermally conductive foamed metallic material is charged into an annular space defined between an exterior surface of the first layer and an interior surface of the second layer to fill space not otherwise occupied by the resistance wire. a heating element (130,132) operably disposed within at least the valve body; a power source coupled to and configured to activate the heating element (130,132) to generate heat; a valve plate heating element disposed to heat the valve plate; and a coupling configured to electrically connect the valve plate heating element and the power source during movements of the valve element; characterised in that the valve body comprises first and second layers (1101,1102) and the heating element (130,132) comprises a resistance wire (130,132) interposed between the first and second layers (1101,1102), wherein a highly thermally conductive foamed metallic material is charged into an annular space defined between an exterior surface of the first layer and an interior surface of the second layer to fill space not otherwise occupied by the resistance wire.