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WINTER WEATHER

Paul Wilson

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WHAT WE TRY TO DO

• Road Network – try to keep as much of the road network open as possible

• Town Centres/Shopping Areas – Try to keep town shopping areas as clear as possible with external assistance

• Key Pedestrian routes – Try to keep route to town centres and schools and other key facilities

• Bus Routes - Try to keep the major bus routes open that fall on the salted network

• Salt bins - Try to keep salt bins filled when resources and materials permit

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The Processes

We decide when to carry out precautionary salting using:

• regular weather forecasts specifically for roadconditions on Oxfordshire's roads received twice a day

• a computerised ice prediction system which compares forecast conditions against actual road temperatures measured at five weather stations around the county

• a through-the-night watch on conditions

• the local knowledge of staff to judge where and when to best carry out precautionary salting

• Even if freezing temperatures are predicted, there may be no need for precautionary salting if:

– there is enough salt left on the road from the previous salting– no rain has fallen and roads are dry, as ice will not form.

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Oxfordshire - Physical Influences

BENSONThe coldest place in the Country -27 o at

one point this winter

Cotswolds

Chilterns

North Wessex Downs

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Reacting to the Forecast

• Decision made based on forecast

whether to salt network or not

Why we salt

• Spreading crushed rock salt on the roads

before the surface reaches freezing point

prevents ice forming in most cases.

• In the event of significant snow our fleet of

gritters and snowploughs are deployed

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Where we salt

It would be unrealistic and uneconomic to salt all roads, although we do manage to treat 43 per cent of the county council's road network.

Certain county roads have been identified as important routes because they:

• carry large volumes of traffic

• provide vital access for rural communities

• are known problem sites

• provide access to hospitals and fire stations

• are main bus routes.

• priority 1 - the busiest roads

• priority 2 - other roads that need to be kept clear

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Self Help

What can others do ?

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Pre-Winter Preparation

• Engage with the local community to provide assistance

(People with 4 x 4s, Volunteer groups etc)

• Acquire a small supply of road salt (a little goes quite a long way)

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• Contact OCC if you notice that the

local salt bins have not been replenished (Note: this salt should only be used on the public highway)

• Make sure that the emergency ‘contacts’ list is available and up to date - which could include

– Local farmer/contractor details– Willing 4 x 4 owner details– Local doctors / first aiders details

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What others can do

• Decide on key routes for the community that would benefit from clearing

Village

A road

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Other Self help ideas

• Most Parishes have got at least one of these

• Who more than often have got one of these

• Which when you add one of these

• Can become ………………

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• One of these …….

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Will I Get Sued ???

• “At present, there is no legal restriction preventing members of the public from clearing the snow and ice on the highway outside their properties; it remains open for them to do this. Provided that they are reasonable and careful it is unlikely that a member of the public would face any legal liability, and those using the road or footway have a responsibility to be careful themselves.”

• Occupiers of properties already have legal responsibilities to ensure that visitors are reasonably safe and, therefore, failure to clear snow or ice from their own paths might result in them incurring liability. Much depends on the particular circumstances of the case.

• If a property owner did decide to clear a public footway of snow and ice then provided they take reasonable care in doing this to prevent injury then there is little likelihood of them being successfully sued for any subsequent injury that might occur