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| Photo courtesy Lancashire County Council |
Lancashire County Council is advising people to be prepared for snow following a Met Office yellow warning across the north west this afternoon (Tuesday 20 January).
The county council’s gritting crews have been working around the clock over the past week, and with snow forecast they’re ready to treat roads across the whole county from this afternoon onwards.
This will involve the treatment of the main routes throughout the county including non-trunk motorways and A roads, B roads and single routes in and out of villages.
The county council will be carrying out the following activity this evening:
- All priority routes in East Lancashire will be gritted this evening, and we will continue to treat secondary routes, once priority routes are clear. We are also continuing to grit the priority footways during the daytime.
- All priority routes in Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire will be gritted this evening.
- All priority routes in Lancaster, Fylde and Wyre will be gritted this evening.
- Drivers on the night shift will be patrolling and monitoring all routes across the county and treating them where necessary throughout the night. We will also continue to refill grit bins and replenish salt piles where necessary.
The county council is well-prepared for the current cold snap with over 30,000 tonnes of salt in stock and 49 gritters at ten depots across the county.
Of the 4,300 miles of road the county council is responsible for, around a third (1,500 miles) are part of the priority road network for salting and snow clearing during the winter. People are urged to take extra care on the roads and allow extra time for journeys.
The county council has also given out the following winter advice to residents:
Stock up on grit – The salt provided in grit bins is to help make the roads and pavements safer for everyone – it’s not for private use. Stock up on grit for your personal use from a range of DIY stores.
It’s also useful to have a snow shovel, a torch, batteries, a first aid kit and some appropriate footwear and warm clothes handy.
Clearing snow and ice – The government has issued advice for people when clearing snow – find out more about the Snow Code on the council’s website – www.lancashire.gov.uk/winter.
Parking during winter – If you park your car on a main road or gritting route during winter, please make sure it’s not causing an obstruction. Blocked roads could mean the county council are unable to grit that road. It could also mean your vehicle is at risk of damage if our gritters have to manoeuvre around it.
Keep warm and well – Look after yourself and keep an eye on friends, relatives and older neighbours who may be more vulnerable to the cold weather. Make sure that they are safe, warm and well and have enough medication and food if the weather is severe.
Get your flu jab – The flu jab is offered free to people who are at risk to make sure that they are protected against catching flu and developing serious complications. Contact your GP to find out if you are eligible for a free flu jab.
Choose well – During the winter, A&E departments are under a lot of pressure. A&E and 999 calls should only be used for life-threatening and emergency conditions only. There are a range of other places you can go for NHS treatment including your local pharmacy, your GP or local walk-in centre.
• To find out when and where we are gritting visit our winter website www.lancashire.gov.uk/winter. Follow Lancashire County Council on Twitter @LancashireCC and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lancashirecc) for regular updates on gritting activity – look out for #LancsWinter.