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 Gov.UK
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.