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28 July 2010
Councils stocking up on salt for winter during the heat of summer
Country: England and Wales
Responding to the publication of the independent ‘Winter Resilience Review’, commissioned by the Government to examine the impact of the last two winters on the country’s transport systems, Cllr David Sparks, Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“During the summer most people enjoy the luxury of being able to forget about ice and snow, but local government can’t do that. Councils have already been at work examining what happened last winter, updating their plans for dealing with extreme weather and getting in fresh supplies. Stocks of salt are being replenished and new gritting lorries are being delivered.
“Taking the right action now, in the height of summer, can make all the difference when the dark days of winter make a return. The gritting season will be with us in three months, and councils need to know all the salt they have ordered will be in place.
“It is of paramount importance that councils can get clear and accurate information about salt stocks and deliveries during times of extreme snowfall. Working together effectively is dependent on local and national government having all the information they need from the salt suppliers about what can be provided and when.”
The LGA recently published its own report on the impact of last winter’s weather which made ten recommendations, including:
* The Government should issue clear advice to individuals and organisations that they will not be at risk of prosecution if they clear icy pavements themselves. A poll carried out for the LGA has shown nearly three quarters of people felt that protection should be introduced.
* Salt suppliers, businesses, and central and local government should have strong continuity plans in place to make sure the country stays open for business during severe winter weather.
* Councils should expand their co-operation with neighbouring authorities and look into the case for joint reserve salt stocks across a whole area, which they could then call on when demand for salt exceeds supply.
Polling carried out in the wake of last winter and made public for the first time showed that two thirds of people think it is most important to keep priority local roads open, compared with just over ten per cent who think motorways are most important. More than six out of ten people do not want to pay more council tax to fund larger stocks of salt and grit.
Cllr Sparks continued:
“Councils have been arguing about the need for common sense guidance to support public-spirited people who help clear icy roads and pavements. Reassuring local people they can help keep roads and paths moving without fear of prosecution should go some way to making sure everyone has easier access to local services like shops, schools and GPs’ surgeries.”
Further information
The LGA published its own investigation into the impact of last winter’s weather during its annual conference in July.
“Weathering the Storm II – Improving UK resilience to severe weather” included results of LGA polling conducted during January 2010 which revealed that in general, the public understood that councils need to prioritise treatment of roads during severe winter weather.
LGA poll on attitudes to winter weather
The LGA commissioned a ComRes poll to look into people’s attitudes about the winter weather experienced in 2009/2010. They interviewed 1004 UK adults by telephone between 15th and 17th January 2010. The results of the survey are as follows:
- 61% do not want to pay more council tax to pay for larger stockpiles of salt and grit
- 45% do not want other council services to receive less money to pay for larger stockpiles of salt and grit
- 57% agree that Britain rarely sees winters as severe as the current one and that it would be inappropriate to spend more money preparing
- 68% think businesses should have better plans in place to help people work from home during severe weather
- 66% think the priority during bad weather is to keep priority routes open, compared to 11% for motorways
- 59% would support a law to require people to clear snow outside their home, with
- 73% also supporting a separate law to protect people from any subsequent litigation from people who slip over
- 80% think the Government is too reliant on the existing salt suppliers, and
- 87% believe a wider range of suppliers should be invested in
28 July 2010
Councils stocking up on salt for winter during the heat of summer
Country: England and Wales
Responding to the publication of the independent ‘Winter Resilience Review’, commissioned by the Government to examine the impact of the last two winters on the country’s transport systems, Cllr David Sparks, Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:
“During the summer most people enjoy the luxury of being able to forget about ice and snow, but local government can’t do that. Councils have already been at work examining what happened last winter, updating their plans for dealing with extreme weather and getting in fresh supplies. Stocks of salt are being replenished and new gritting lorries are being delivered.
“Taking the right action now, in the height of summer, can make all the difference when the dark days of winter make a return. The gritting season will be with us in three months, and councils need to know all the salt they have ordered will be in place.
“It is of paramount importance that councils can get clear and accurate information about salt stocks and deliveries during times of extreme snowfall. Working together effectively is dependent on local and national government having all the information they need from the salt suppliers about what can be provided and when.”
The LGA recently published its own report on the impact of last winter’s weather which made ten recommendations, including:
* The Government should issue clear advice to individuals and organisations that they will not be at risk of prosecution if they clear icy pavements themselves. A poll carried out for the LGA has shown nearly three quarters of people felt that protection should be introduced.
* Salt suppliers, businesses, and central and local government should have strong continuity plans in place to make sure the country stays open for business during severe winter weather.
* Councils should expand their co-operation with neighbouring authorities and look into the case for joint reserve salt stocks across a whole area, which they could then call on when demand for salt exceeds supply.
Polling carried out in the wake of last winter and made public for the first time showed that two thirds of people think it is most important to keep priority local roads open, compared with just over ten per cent who think motorways are most important. More than six out of ten people do not want to pay more council tax to fund larger stocks of salt and grit.
Cllr Sparks continued:
“Councils have been arguing about the need for common sense guidance to support public-spirited people who help clear icy roads and pavements. Reassuring local people they can help keep roads and paths moving without fear of prosecution should go some way to making sure everyone has easier access to local services like shops, schools and GPs’ surgeries.”
Further information
The LGA published its own investigation into the impact of last winter’s weather during its annual conference in July.
“Weathering the Storm II – Improving UK resilience to severe weather” included results of LGA polling conducted during January 2010 which revealed that in general, the public understood that councils need to prioritise treatment of roads during severe winter weather.
LGA poll on attitudes to winter weather
The LGA commissioned a ComRes poll to look into people’s attitudes about the winter weather experienced in 2009/2010. They interviewed 1004 UK adults by telephone between 15th and 17th January 2010. The results of the survey are as follows:
- 61% do not want to pay more council tax to pay for larger stockpiles of salt and grit
- 45% do not want other council services to receive less money to pay for larger stockpiles of salt and grit
- 57% agree that Britain rarely sees winters as severe as the current one and that it would be inappropriate to spend more money preparing
- 68% think businesses should have better plans in place to help people work from home during severe weather
- 66% think the priority during bad weather is to keep priority routes open, compared to 11% for motorways
- 59% would support a law to require people to clear snow outside their home, with
- 73% also supporting a separate law to protect people from any subsequent litigation from people who slip over
- 80% think the Government is too reliant on the existing salt suppliers, and
- 87% believe a wider range of suppliers should be invested in
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