Winter services - call to farmers to help clear snow-bound roads

Royal Borough farmers are being urged to step forward and volunteer to help keep roads clear in times of extreme weather.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Environment, who issued the plea, said farmers who own snow ploughs could help rural communities in the borough by clearing snow-bound country lanes.

Cllr Bicknell said: "As a small local authority we simply cannot afford to buy more snow ploughs. We make full use of our gritters but inevitably we have to prioritise and focus on primary and secondary routes and other key areas. This means country lanes in areas such as the Cookhams and Walthams may not be reached.

"I appeal to any farmers with snow ploughs or similar equipment who are willing to volunteer their help to please get in touch with us."

The council has drawn up a contract to ensure farmers would be indemnified from potential claims while carrying out snow clearance on public highways. Farmers were recently given the all clear by HM Revenues and Customs to use red diesel in their tractors to help clear (and grit) snow from public roads.

This initiative is specifically for country lanes. For minor urban and suburban roads the council is encouraging - and creating opportunities for - communities to help themselves.

Cllr Bicknell said: "The council has to use its limited resources as effectively as possible and so we have taken the pragmatic approach of providing the means to allow people to help themselves and their neighbours - very much in the spirit of the Big Society."

The council has spent the £100,000 that residents voted to spend on winter services in last year's Participatory Budgeting consultation on extra footway spreaders, towable gritting machines that fit small estate roads, about 100 new community salt bins, snow shovels and salt.

Cllr Bicknell added: "Despite media horror stories of neighbourly residents risking prosecution should someone slip on the area of pavement they cleared, the government has made it clear that there is no law stopping people from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside their homes or from public spaces. We all just need to be careful not to make the highway more dangerous than it was before any clearance."

Guidance for householders on how to clear snow safely is available at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868

The council is also introducing a new GPS computer tracking system, ready for this winter, which will enable residents to see up-to-date information on salting routes and gritting via the website, and is also investigating the possibility of building another salt storage facility on council-owned land.

Farmers can find out more about volunteering by emailing vikki.roberts@rbwm.gov.uk or calling 01628 796361.

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