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Keeping Medway moving
Medway’s gritting teams have
been working tirelessly to clear the main roads from snow and ice. Our gritting
teams carried out back to back runs throughout the night. We grit all A and B
class roads, regular bus routes, other busy roads and danger spots. We will
also grit other routes on a priority basis.
While our winter heroes do
their best to keep the main roads clear, our gritters sadly don't
have superpowers, and it will never be possible to cover every road
and pavement in Medway.
Top tips for motorists:
- Make sure your windscreen is completely clear before
you set off so you can easily spot any hazards on the road.
- Use the highest possible gear to avoid wheel spin.
- Avoid braking or accelerating sharply - if you skid,
ease off the accelerator but don’t brake suddenly.
- In snow or bad weather conditions, avoid driving
altogether if you can.
Members of the public are
welcome to use salt from the 455 residential salt bins provided to spread it on
public footways to help pedestrians or if you want to help in your areas by
placing salt at road junctions where it can be difficult to manoeuvre because
of snow. Please use the salt wisely for the benefit of the community and not on
your private property. We keep bins topped up
Additional front line staff
and contractors are on standby to support the response to the forecasted
weather and will be helping to clear town centres of snow and ice.
How can you help?
Consider where you park on
narrower roads. If possible, only park on one side of the road so our gritters
can get through.
Remember, it will never be
possible to cover every road and pavement in Medway, nor can we guarantee that
surfaces are free of ice and snow at all times.
Stay safe on the roads. Even
when icy streets have been treated, they can still be dangerous.
Please take extra care, and in heavy snow only travel if you have
to.
Rail and bus disruption
There may be
disruption to commuter and bus services across the whole of the south east
and Medway. Travellers are being told to expect cancellations and
alterations. Please check before you travel - follow the latest
news for rail and buses.
Refuse collections
Waste, recycling and organic collections have been
SUSPENDED today due to the icy conditions on side roads and footpaths. We
will keep you updated on collection status on a regular basis but please
continue to put out your rubbish and recycling as usual this week.
Our household waste recycling centres are open from 9.30am
today allowing staff time to clear snow and treat surfaces.
School closures
There are a
number of school closures across Medway today. For the
latest information on school closures please check school and
academy websites. Most closures are also listed on Kent County
Council's school closures page and
on local radio stations.
Help is available to rough sleepers
The severe weather emergency protocol is in place in Medway – council staff
are working with colleagues from partner agencies in the Homelessness Forum to
tell as many rough sleepers as possible that accommodation is available to
them. All rough sleepers in Medway are being encouraged to visit Kingsley House
in Balmoral Road, Gillingham before 5.15pm where help is available. Rough
sleepers who are unable to get to Kingsley House during the day will still be
provided with emergency accommodation by contacting our out of hours
homelessness service on 01634 304400.
OTHER SERVICE UPDATES
Customer Contact Centres: OPEN but we apologise if you
experience delays in getting through.
Medway Sports Centres: ALL OPEN
Medways libraries: ALL OPEN
Gillingham and Rochester Adult Education Centres : ALL OPEN
but decisions will be made on individual classes as we hear from tutors.
Rochester
Castle and Guildhall Museum: CLOSED
Stay warm, stay well
Cold weather can be bad for your
health, but there are some simple things residents can do to prepare for
severe weather and keep warm and health:
- Make sure that you stay warm. If going outside make sure you dress appropriately. If indoors, make sure that you keep your heating to the right temperature; heating your home to at least 18°C in winter poses minimal risk to your health when you are wearing suitable clothing.
- If there is anyone you know who might be at special risk, for example, an older person living on their own, make sure they know what to do to stay warm and are well stocked with food and medications.
- If you are worried about your health or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111
Snow wardens – community volunteers
Snow wardens, volunteers in the community, will be out and about helping to
clear snow and treat footpaths. If you’d like to become a snow warden and clear
footpaths close to where you live, please visit Medway Council’s website to
sign up. Volunteers are allocated 25kg bag of road salt, hand spreader, snow
shovel, pair of gloves and a high visibility vest.
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