Safety warning as big freeze is expected to last all week
After several days of snow and with wintry weather set to continue all week, Herts County Council is urging everyone to stay safe on the roads.
Councillor Stuart Pile, who oversees highways and transport, said: “I urge all residents to take care when they’re out and about and to visit our website - www.hertsdirect.org/salting – for driving tips, advice on snow clearing and details of which roads are salted.
“It’s been an incredibly busy few days for our highways service and our contractor Ringway. Since Friday morning Ringway’s gritting crews have been out 10 times on our primary route, which covers over 40 per cent of Hertfordshire’s roads – each time salting 2,500km of roads. They have also been clearing pavements in busy areas and started clearing roads on our secondary route.
“I’d like to thank all the district, town and parish councils and especially the farmers who have been going above and beyond to help keep roads and pavements as safe as possible.”
Freezing temperatures and wintry showers are likely to continue this week so gritters will keep going out to ensure main transport routes are kept moving. Everyone needs to take care on the roads and pavements – especially those that are not on the salting route – and allow extra time for journeys.
Despite using 3,500 tonnes of salt this weekend, salt stocks remain healthy with 8,500 tonnes in stock and more salt deliveries expected this week.
District, borough and parish councils and various community groups have been provided with salt to help keep key routes, particularly pavements, safer during cold spells. People are reminded that salt in bins is for use on roads and pavements, not private land like driveways.
Winter advice is available by clicking on the ‘severe weather’ tab at www.hertsdirect.org. This covers all county council services, including information provided by schools on whether they are open.
Twitter users can find out when gritters are going out by following ‘Gritter Twitter’.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North west
