Snow warden scheme launched in Plymouth

Despite the warm weather, Plymouth City Council is looking ahead to the colder months with the launch of a new volunteer snow warden scheme in the city.

Following several severe winters, many communities around the country are setting up volunteer snow warden schemes to help local people during icy or snowy weather.

The Council’s highways contractor Amey will pilot one of these schemes in Plymouth this winter as part of its winter service, which gets under way on 1 October and runs until 31 March.

Because it is impossible to salt all the 900km of roads in Plymouth, gritters concentrate on the main routes used for getting around the city. This means footpaths and many residential roads cannot be treated. Volunteer snow wardens are therefore being asked to help keep their local community moving by clearing footpaths of snow and salting footpaths where necessary.

Snow wardens will also monitor salt levels in their local grit bins and report any issues with the roads. These tasks will go a long way in supporting their local neighbourhood and enabling people to get out and about.

If you are 18 or older please consider helping your neighbours this winter and becoming a volunteer snow warden. A training session will be held at Prince Rock depot where refreshments will be served and volunteers can meet like-minded people who wish to support their community.

The training will cover health and safety and provide volunteers with equipment including a shovel, fluorescent jacket and stock of road salt. All volunteers will be covered to carry out the clearing of footpaths by the Council’s public liability insurance.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It may be warm outside, but now is the time to plan and prepare for the colder winter months. Snow warden schemes are proving very successful all over the country and I believe establishing one in Plymouth will go a long way to supporting communities in the face of winter weather.”

To find out more about the scheme email plymouth.watchman@amey.co.uk, call 01752 668000 or go along to Amey’s winter service road show event in Place de Brest on Saturday 12 October (midday to 4pm).