BackOn thin ice: Ice free pavements
With snow already starting to fall this this winter, national charity Living Streets is calling for pavements to be cleared and gritted as a priority to help prevent some of the 16,000 snow and ice related hospital admissions recorded in England alone during the winter of 2009/10.
Snow and ice cause problems across the UK each winter, but whilst our roads are routinely gritted, our pavements are often neglected, turning them into dangerous ice rinks for pedestrians.
Icy pavements can cause problems for anyone who wants to walk to the shops, to work, or even the local bus stop. But if you’re older, disabled or have a pushchair, these dangerous conditions can make it impossible to venture outdoors. During the winter of 2009/10, 16,064 snow and ice related hospital admissions were recorded in England, 18 times higher than the winter before and costing an enormous £42 million pounds.
Councils have a legal duty to ensure that safe movement on the highway - including on pavements - is not endangered by snow or ice. Living Streets is calling for councils to work with local communities to make sure that everyone can get around safely and without slipping or falling on icy pavements.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“Living Streets doesn’t want a repeat of previous years, where people have felt vulnerable and in some cases completely isolated by ice on our pavements. With nearly four in five short journeys made on foot , it’s time that the needs of people on foot are taken seriously.
“We want to see councils work together with their local communities to make sure no one feels isolated or vulnerable because of the weather. We urge councils to sign up to our three point winter plan for ice-free pavements which includes giving key walking routes at least the same priority as key roads, supplying grit and encouraging the public to help clear pavements and redeploying council staff that are unable to do their usual jobs in the icy weather.”
For more information please visit www.livingstreets.org.uk/icy
As part of our Ice Free Pavements campaign, we are calling for local authorities to agree a winter contract with communities, committing to:
• clearing pavements and paths serving key local destinations and giving them at least the same priority as key roads in relevant plans and winter maintenance schedules
• sending contractors unable to carry out their main jobs in bad weather to help clear icy pavements
• helping residents do their bit by making sure grit is available, encouraging people to clear the street outside their property and helping organise volunteer teams of ‘snow wardens’
Published on: 06/12/2011
