There’s bad weather forecast for the UK towards the end of next week. Although it doesn’t look too dreadful for our area. The BBC weather page suggests we’ll only get some light snow (on Thursday) and that next Saturday and Sunday nights will be pretty cold (about -4 Celsius)
Anyway, the District Council website has some advice about dealing with snow , ice and cold weather.
The same webpage explains what the County and District Council aim to do:
The County Council has to focus gritting resources on major roads. Except for exceptional circumstances it does not treat minor roads and residential areas, areas that are not part of the public highway – such as car parks and parks, footways and cycle tracks. High use footways will be identified for treatment when covered with heavy snow, if resources permit.
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Rochford District Council have plans in place to prioritise its areas of responsibility, during periods of heavy snow and severe winter conditions SITA staff will be diverted from their normal duties to assist in salting or snow clearance operations. In the event that the refuse service is suspended, additional staff will be redeployed.
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The Council will endeavour in order of priority using staff employed by our contractors to spread grit salt at various Sheltered Housing Scheme Units, at all entrances, exits and roadways at the Council?s cemeteries, at all entrances and exits to the Council?s parks and open spaces, where access is urgently needed (i.e. where Pavilions are used by play groups), at all entrances and exits and around the ticket machines in the Council?s Pay & Display car parks, and on the access paths to all of the Council?s Public conveniences.
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It is unrealistic to specify response and completion times, as these would vary according to the severity of the snowfall or ice and the availability of staff.
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Contrary to popular myth, there is no law stopping you from taking action to clear your local pavements and pathways, providing that you take a careful and common sense approach. When clearing snow and ice make sure you are not putting yourself or anyone else at risk, and do not use water under any circumstances as it may replace snow with dangerous black ice.
Could I issue a warning here please. Rock salt can be poisonous to cats and dogs. If you walk your dog where there is residue from gritting and motorists washing their windscreens with screen wash on the pavement they can also get anti freeze poisoning. It happens when it gets on their paws and they lick it. If your dog or cat has been walking where there is rock salt and or gritting residue wash off their paws as soon as you can. Symptoms are sudden onset of sickness, diarrhea, being unco-ordinated. It affects major organs so urgent vet treatment is needed.