Snow wardens on stand-by in icy weather
A TEAM of 30 volunteers have signed up to become snow wardens in North Somerset.
North Somerset Council set up an initiative to train people as voluntary wardens who will swing into action if the weather gets significantly colder.
Snow wardens can help by monitoring local weather conditions, grit bins, salt supplies or if there is vandalism or misuse of resources.
They will also work to spread grit and clear snow at agreed locations.
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Precautionary salting is carried out on 320km – 29.2 per cent – of the district's road network each night when bad weather is predicted.
The length of route salted is the equivalent of driving from Weston- super-Mare to Liverpool.
Six lorries are used throughout the district, dropping salt at 20 grams per square metre and 30 tonnes of salt – the weight of more than four empty double-decker London buses is used each night.
Each lorry has a tracking system providing data about its location, how much salt it has dispersed and how fast it travelled.
It is hoped that snow wardens will be deployed to help maintain access routes and pavements during periods of snow and ice.
North Somerset Council executive member for environment, Councillor Peter Bryant, said: "This is an initiative where the community can really get involved and if this trial proves successful in Weston-super- Mare we can extend it across the district next year by involving town and parish councils, charities and interested groups."
Anyone interested in finding out more and becoming a snow warden they can contact Council Connect on 01934 888 802.
Comments
by welliedog2
Thursday, December 27 2012, 10:06AM
“'Snow Warden's' Lol, whatever next rain marshal's perhaps or maybe wind monitors?
Seriously though, I would rather the Council just appropriated the correct resources and dealt with severe weather in a professional manner.
Volunteers are great and can add value, but I don't pay taxes for volunteers.”