Somerset County Council is urging people to be prepared in case of snow and ice again this winter.
Recent winters have featured some particularly harsh weather with heavy snow making travel difficult on several occasions.
This year the Council is all set should the temperature plummet – with 7,000 tonnes of salt supplies and a team of 23 gritters ready to pre-treat 900 miles of main roads.
Councillor Harvey Siggs, Somerset County Council’s Conservative Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We’re monitoring weather forecasts and whenever the temperature drops our teams will be out there gritting major routes to keep Somerset moving.
“But we simply cannot treat every road and pavement in the county. To do this we would need 60 new gritters at a cost of £100,000 each, hundreds of extra staff and it would cost around £20 million a year – money we simply do not have.
“So although they have no duty to do so, we are appealing for communities to organise self help and offering salt bags to all town and parish councils for use on roads and pavements in local areas.
“As long as you follow the Snow Code, you can make a real difference by spreading salt from the bins over the local roads we can’t reach. But please think of your neighbours by using this responsibly on public roads and pavements, not on private driveways.”
There is no law stopping members of the public from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside their home or from public spaces. It is unlikely you will be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully and followed the Snow Code:
- If you clear snow and ice yourself, be careful you don’t make the pathways more dangerous by causing them to refreeze.
- Clear the snow or ice early in the day
- Use salt or sand – not water
- Take care where you move the snow
- Offer to clear your neighbour’s path
Always take extra care when driving in cold weather. Only the busiest roads are salted, most are not, so plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly if frost has followed rain. Remember to:
- Prepare your vehicle for winter
- Check the weather forecast and road conditions before travelling
- Allow extra time for your journey
- Give gritters and snow ploughs plenty of room
- Carry a shovel and blanket in your vehicle
Throughout the winter you can receive live updates from Somerset County Council’s Highways teams by following @somersetgritter on Twitter. If snow falls there will also be useful information and updates at www.somerset.gov.uk