4 November 2014

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

EAST Grinstead Town Council has snow shovels and good neighbour kits which can be borrowed from its East Court offices in the event of heavy snow this winter.

Anyone who wants to organise a pavement-clearing gang can help with snow clearance on the town’s pavements and streets: there are some rules to follow, but if residents sign up they will be covered by West Sussex County Council insurance while working on the roads.

There is also no need to worry about being sued if anyone slips on a pavement which has been cleared – as long as you have not acted to make it worse, there is no danger of being held responsible, and good neighbours, doing a good deed, will help everyone move around town more safely and more quickly.

WSCC has decided not to refill grit bins free this year and at £80 per bag, and with 17 bags needed to re-supply East Grinstead, the Town Council will have only enough to fill bins once this winter.

So use the grit sparingly – one shovelful should go a long way!

Once the supplies are exhausted, they are exhausted.

Please remember grit is provided for residential highways not private drives: if residents provide the salt for clearing their own drives and footpaths, the salt provided will go a lot further on the roads.

For more advice about coping with adverse weather conditions please see WSCC’s new website at www.westsussex.gov.uk/snow which will go live shortly.

You can look up which roads the County Council is able to grit, read about how the County Council prepares in the event of bad weather, and also about things you can do to stay well and safe in the event of a heavy snowfall.

• Check on vulnerable or elderly family and neighbours – they may need your support in bad weather
• Don’t use water to clear snow and ice, it will refreeze and become more dangerous
• Don’t travel unless you have to and make sure your vehicle is ready for cold weather
• Be prepared – keep a supply of provisions in case of bad weather
• Mobile phones and social media such as Facebook and Twitter are an excellent and easy way to keep in touch during severe weather events. Make sure you share your details with your neighbours
• Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather conditions, especially footwear

It doesn’t hurt to think ahead and be well prepared. Don’t forget, you can also follow @WSHighways on Twitter, or ‘West Sussex Matters’ on Facebook, to keep up to date and share information.

For further advice, you can also visit www.metoffice.gov.uk and search ‘Get Ready for Winter’.