We’re ready for worst of weather

Putting your ideas into practice

Following the severe weather we have experienced over the past two years, the South Neighbourhood team is gearing up for any severe weather that may come this year.

After last year’s severe weather where we tackled more than one metre of snowfall, we held open public meetings throughout the South Neighbourhood to hear what our residents had to say. We have listened and put many of their ideas into our new work plans.

Join the snow-clearing effort

The Council will do all it can to keep the city moving. However, our focus has to be on priority routes for buses and emergency vehicles and giving access to hospitals, health centres and schools.

Greater emphasis is being given to areas on high ground or with sloped accesses and many have been added to our category 1 and 2 clearing routes.

Salt supplies will increase by 300 per cent with more bags placed at strategic points in housing estates.

In previous years, we have been encouraged by the number of residents who contact us to see how they can help. There is a lot you can do by clearing pavements in your area and checking on neighbours. The South local office may be able to help with equipment.

Volunteer snow wardens

In previous years, we have been encouraged by the number of residents who contact us to see how they can help. There is a lot you can do by clearing pavements in your area and checking on neighbours.

We are enlisting volunteer snow wardens to be our eyes and ears in the community. They can tell us about specific problems and support residents with the local effort to clear snow and ice from pavements.

To find out if you could be a volunteer snow warden, call 0131 529 3687.

A limited supply of snow shovels will also be available to volunteers through Council locations across the South Neighbourhood, including your local library, to help with clearing snow in your community.

Snow clearing will take place longer in the day with the intention to have gritters and mini tractors on the streets round the clock.

“In the South area greater emphasis will be placed on pavements and access routes to shops, bus stops and schools, having taken into consideration comments from the community on what they would like to see happen in their areas during snow fall,” said neighbourhood manager Sarah Burns.

“Obviously, we hope that the weather is fairer to us this year but if it arrives, the South team is more prepared than ever to tackle the severe weather that we experienced last year.”

Need to know

If you require further information, please contact the South team on 0131 529 5151 or e-mail southteam@edinburgh.gov.uk

Tips for the best and safest way to clear snow and ice

• Wear warm clothes and footwear with a good grip
• Don’t take risks on the road
• Wear bright clothing so you can be seen
• Try to clear snow or ice early – it’s easier to move loose snow and the sun will help melt ice
• Clear a small path down the middle of the pavement for a safe surface to walk on then shovel from the centre to the kerbside
• Don’t block paths, driveways or drains with cleared snow
• Use salt or sand – not water, as it will freeze. Ordinary table salt can be used, but you can buy bags of rock salt from DIY shops. Use more salt on steps and steep pathways. Sand gives a good grip, but won’t stop the path icing over. Salting areas before snow falls makes clearance easier
• There is no law stopping you clearing snow and ice from pavements.

Need to know

Go to the Ready Winter pages on www.readyscotland.org for the Scottish Government’s advice on clearing snow and ice and preparing for winter.