We’re ready for worst of weather

Putting your ideas into practice

Following the extreme winters of the last two years, the West Neighbourhood team is gearing up for any severe weather in 2011/12.

After last year we held open public meetings throughout the West Neighbourhood to hear what residents had to say. We have listened and plan to put many of your ideas in place.

Keeping your neighbourhood moving

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 access to hospitals, health centres and schools.

Abandoned cars will be moved quickly to stop them causing an obstruction.

Priority gritting routes will be widely publicised, with emphasis given to streets on high ground or slopes.

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

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

How you can help

Last year, many local people offered their help if the severe weather recurred in 2011/12.

We are happy to help people help themselves and others.

You can volunteer to clear snow in your area. See below.

We can advise on how to keep the area around your property or business free from snow.

You can check if your elderly or vulnerable neighbours need any help.

You can help in your neighbourhood and report any problems to the West Neighbourhood team.

West environmental manager Murray Black said: “In the West 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.”

Volunteer snow wardens

We are enlisting some volunteer snow wardens to be our eyes and ears in their community.

They can tell us about specific problems and support local effort to clear snow and ice from pavements.

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

NEED TO KNOW

If you require further information, please contact the West team on 0131 529 7440 or e-mail westteam@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.