Councils insists “We’re ready for winter”

RESIDENTS are being reassured that Rotherham Council is as “ready as possible” to deal with the winter weather.

The council’s highways team, who are responsible for clearing the roads, has made sure that the potential harsh coming winter is fully prepared for.

The winter salting programme ensures that more than 300 miles of the town’s busiest roads, including all main bus routes, are treated with salt in advance of any forecast ice or snow.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cabinet member for regeneration and development Cllr Gerald Smith said: “We’ve shown that we’re ready, but, are you?

“It was a dreadful winter last year, and the heavy snowfalls were compounded by people determined to travel in life-threatening conditions.

“You would have needed a sleigh and nine-strong reindeer to get about on some routes last year.

People need to give us time to do our job, sometimes, the sensible option is just staying put.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If everyone is trying to drive when it starts to snow, then our spreaders and snowploughs can’t do their job properly, because they’re stuck in traffic.”

He added: “Check the forecast, leave earlier, leave later, change your route, just use some common sense.

“Make sure you have a winter kit in the car too, a scraper, boots, sunglasses for the glare, a blanket and a shovel.

“Get it ready in your car now and you won’t have to think about it again.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ten priority routes are salted as a precautionary measure before forecast ice or snow occurs which takes up to three hour to complete.

Once traffic on the priority network is flowing freely, all available resources are deployed on community routes across the borough.

While working on these routes, every effort is made to respond to individual requests for assistance.

During heavy snowfall, hand salting teams will be deployed to clear snow and ice from areas where people are most at risk such as near schools, sheltered housing and busier footways.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Five thousand tonnes of rock salt is already stockpiled the Hellaby Depot in the purpose built salt barn.

Ten gritters will be ready to deliver that salt, managed by any of 40 City and Guilds qualified drivers who will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week between November and March.

The community can help when the worst hits by salting their own local area from the 380 recently refilled salt bins.

To assist the salting teams, more than 25 volunteers and several parish councils will be helping to clear snow in their communities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Regular tweets will be sent out from the council’s Twitter feed, @RMBCpress, keeping members of the public informed of weather conditions and the works being carried out.

For those already on the road, electronic signs will be used to advice drivers of freezing conditions.

For more information see www.rotherham.gov.uk/winter.