Snow Clearance and Gritting
Redditch Borough Council has the following priorities
for gritting and snow clearance
- Crematorium and cemeteries will be cleared to allow funerals to
take place
- RBC staff car parks will be cleared to ensure there are
suitable parking areas for Council staff who are getting into work
to provide essential services
- Key Council sites will be cleared to assist local shops and
businesses and enable residents to access services.
Snow clearance will be carried out as stated above but will take
longer than gritting. Approximately a one metre wide
pathway will be cleared to allow access.
All gritting and snow clearance work will be done to allow a
sensible route for pedestrians and/or vehicles to access properties
or facilities including council owned sheltered accommodation to
allow access to Home Support Officers.
Roads and Footpaths
Redditch Borough Council are not responsible for gritting or
clearing roads and footpaths. This is the responsibility of
Worcestershire County Council. A primary network of 1,300km
is treated in the first instance, with a secondary network treated
when conditions require it and when resources allow. These
will include our highways and some main roads such as Coldfield
Drive, Studley Road and Battens Drive.
To view the County Council's gritting routes, please
click here and
follow the instructions.
Grit Bins
The majority of grit bins are owned and maintained by
Worcestershire County Council. To request a grit bin to be
installed or re-filled, please visit the Worcestershire County
Council web site by clicking here.
The snow code - tips on clearing snow and ice from pavements or
public spaces - Extract from DirectGov website
Don’t be put off clearing paths because you’re afraid someone
will get injured. Remember, people walking on snow and ice have a
responsibility to be careful themselves.
Follow the advice below to make sure you clear the pathway safely
and effectively.
And don’t believe the myths - it's unlikely you'll be sued or held
legally responsible for any injuries if you have cleared the path
carefully.
Clear the snow and ice early in the day
It’s easier to move fresh, loose snow rather than hard snow that
has packed together from people walking on it. So if possible,
start removing the snow and ice in the morning. If you remove the
top layer of snow in the morning, any sunshine during the day will
help melt any ice beneath. You can then cover the path with salt
before nightfall to stop it refreezing overnight.
Use salt or sand - not water
Don’t make the pathways more dangerous by causing them to
refreeze. If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and
turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it
is invisible and very slippery.
You can melt snow or prevent black ice by spreading some salt on
the area you have cleared. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher
salt - a tablespoon for each square metre you clear should work.
Don’t use the salt found in salting bins - this will be needed to
keep the roads clear.
Be careful not to spread salt on plants or grass as it may damage
them.
If you don’t have enough salt, you can also use sand or ash. These
won’t stop the path icing over as effectively as salt, but will
provide good grip underfoot.
Take care where you move the snow
When you’re shovelling snow, take care where you put it so it
doesn’t block people’s paths or drains. Make sure you make a path
down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a
clear surface to walk on. Then shovel the snow from the centre of
the path to the sides.
Offer to clear your neighbours’ paths
If your neighbour will have difficulty getting in and out of
their home, offer to clear snow and ice around their property as
well. Check that any elderly or disabled neighbours are alright in
the cold weather. If you’re worried about them, try contacting
their relatives or friends, or if necessary the local council.
For more advise on preparing for Winter, pleae visit
the DirectGov website by clicking here.
