Theres no business like snow business

Wednesday November 16, 2011 (updated Thursday February 2, 2012)

With recent temperatures falling to minus four degrees and weather forecasters predicting cold and wintry conditions over the coming weeks, Hammersmith & Fulham Council is reminding residents that they can help themselves and their neighbours if severe weather does hit the borough.

The council is prepared for snow and ice, with a full stock pile of over 1,000 tonnes of grit and gritters and footpath gritting machines at the ready to help keep H&F’s main roads and pavements clear, day and night.

Residents are also being called on to do their bit, by taking a common sense approach to helping clear paths and pavements outside their front doors, and those of their neighbours. The government’s ‘snow code’ offers guidance to residents on how to best clear snow and ice, and is reassuring people that they can help without fear of getting sued, if anyone were to slip and injure themselves.

The Directgov website - www.direct.gov.uk/preparingforemergencies (opens new window) - says: “Don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have responsibility to be careful themselves.”

As always, the council will prioritise H&F’s busiest roads and footpaths, in particular the main arterial routes, town centres and transport hubs making sure they are regularly gritted and cleared. All schools should also have a winter weather plan in place to minimise disruption to classes.

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “We are fully prepared for snow and cold weather – we have a full stock of grit and solid emergency plans to keep main roads, major transport hubs and shopping areas clear, and council services running.

“We have 250 miles of footways in Hammersmith and Fulham, and getting workers, equipment and salt to all corners of the borough is equivalent to manually gritting a footpath that stretches from London to Birmingham and back. We also have to carefully manage our salt stock so that we keep main roads open and running, as a priority, so that emergency vehicles like ambulances and police cars can continue to travel safely.

“If a cold snap hits and every resident is willing to join in early and help out, it will make a real difference across the borough. We need people to prepare for the snow, to work with us to keep the borough moving and ticking over - that might only mean doing small things like brushing away snow near their homes or checking in on elderly neighbours.”

Residents can keep up to date with weather forecasts and news of any services that might be affected by the weather, by signing up for regular snow update email alerts, at the council’s dedicated snow page – www.lbhf.gov.uk/snow. There is also useful information and updates on all council services there, and details will also be available on our Twitter feed @LBHF (opens new window).

Some top tips from the snow code:

• Start early: It is much easier to remove fresh, loose snow compared to compacted ice that has been compressed by people walking on it.
• Do not use hot water: This will melt the snow but may replace it with black ice, increasing the risk of injury.
• Be a good neighbour: Some people, particularly the elderly, may be unable to clear snow and ice on paths leading to their property. Please help if you can and check that they are ok. You could also speak to neighbours and community groups to see what joint efforts can be made to clear the snow.
• Think about it: Consider where you will put shovelled snow, so that it does not block people’s paths or drains.
• Work from the inside, out: Clear a path down the middle of the area you are cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on. Then you can shovel the snow from the centre to the sides.
• Sprinkle some salt: Spreading some salt on the area you are clearing will help to prevent any ice forming. Table salt or dishwasher salt is a good alternative to grit and works well, and you can also use sand or ash.
• Use the sun to your advantage: Removing the top layer of snow will allow the sun to melt any ice beneath, but you may need to cover any ice with salt to stop it refreezing overnight.