We hear from Councillor Keith Hudson (the chief councillor for this stuff) that there are now piles of salt located conveniently in our main shopping areas. Anyone may use this salt within the shopping area for the benefit of residents and shoppers alike. These piles will be replenished from Rochford District Council’s own stocks as necessary.
Rochford has already received a request from Essex County Counci for assistance ahead of another predicted major snow event. This is unlike last time when the District weren’t asked in time….
I think that Keith Hudson has done a great job for residents in securing their safety in conditions which are set to be down right dangerous if the problems before Christmas were to have been repeated.
When the winter is over, though, there are questions to be asked as to why Essex County Council has the responsibility for this and cannot,apparently, fulfil its obligations.
Is it a budget issue or a lack of resources in ts contractors?
Although I don’t want to count the cost right now, wishing to see safety fulfilled, I am sure that Keith is keeping count of the spend, and although it may not be high or significant in the overall RDC Budget, I do hope that we have, as residents, have not already paid ECC and this spend is extra !!
The weather forecast for the next few days looks dire, keep yourselves and your families safe and well.
I have just noticed that on their web site home page, Rayleigh Town Council claim that they are responsible for salt bins?!?
On second thoughts, are they responsible for the bins with the County Council maintaining responsibility for providing the salt?
Last time round Rayleigh High Street was badly neglected by whoever is responsible for ensuring that its pavements remain safe. If the town council is only responsible for PROVIDING the salt bins, do they bear some of the culpability for the debacle of the last snow and icing of the High Street?
Have just driven from Rawreth Lane to Rayleigh Weir and all the main roads are completely clear. The pavements were also completely clear and a council worker was actually clearing them along the stretch by Boots! so much better than last time.Keep up the good work RDC.
Sean, that’s a good question ,and your second guess is correct. Rayleigh Town Council has paid for some bins, and they’ve been installed in certain locations where the County Council have agreed to have them. (For example, in Hambro Parade). However it’s the County Council who supply the salt.
The culpability for the skating rink last time around lies at County level – it’s the County Council’s contractors who should have done the work. This time round the District Council has stepped forward and is trying to do what’s necessary.
It seems that RDC have stepped up to the plate! Well done RDC and to the employees that have to go out and clear the snow and ice.
Updates from Keith Hudson and RDC Officers on 7 January
RDC has agreement from ECC that RDC have been allotted 20 tonnes of salt/sand mix. Arrangements made for SITA to collect this later today. This will be available for gritting tomorrow 8/1. In the meantime SITA will be using the remaining stock in the pedestrian routes through our car parks and then some areas in the town centres.
RDC is gritting/salting as follows:
South Area Footways for priority local control but not Castle Point and Basildon
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1063718/South%20Area%20Footways%20for%20priority%20local%20control%20%281%29.pdf
Priority 3 Routes Rochford, Secondary Roads
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1063718/Priority%203%20Routes%20%20Rochford.pd
Last File name lost the “f” !!
Priority 3 Routes Rochford, Secondary Roads
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1063718/Priority%203%20Routes%20%20Rochford.pdf
This should be also of interest to all readers of this site
Please find below a copy of a communication that has gone from Cllr Norman Hume to all District & Borough Leaders.
I would like to update you on the current situation regarding winter gritting.
As you are aware, weather conditions at present are severe and the current spell of cold weather seems likely to continue for some time. Due to the severity and long duration of the current conditions the Government has announced that steps are being taken to control the national distribution of salt. It may, therefore, be necessary for us to implement a reduced precautionary network.
Please be assured that I take the decision to move to this revised route extremely seriously. I expect the reduced network to be in operation over the weekend period starting Friday evening. I am, however, keen to ensure that the full network is gritted as per normal in advance of Monday morning traffic should it be required. The public will be informed of this decision this afternoon via the below press release and I will forward you details of the website address where the revised route can be viewed as soon as it becomes available.
I am aware that many of you have been using your staff to distribute salt provided by ECC to areas of high footfall such as main shopping areas and rail and bus stations etc and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance at this critical time
Sincerely,
Norman Hume
Councillor Norman Hume
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation
Essex County Council | telephone: 01245 434178 | extension: 40178
From Rochford District Council website:
All bin collections have been suspended throughout the District due to dangerous icy conditions on all side roads and pavements.
Looks like the recycling collection will be cancelled again for us, that’ll be 4 weeks without a collection.