Borough urged to gear up for snow

Residents and workers in Basingstoke and Deane are being urged to prepare for extreme weather conditions following predictions of heavy snowfall.

Emergency services and local authorities are issuing advice and guidance to residents as the borough and surrounding areas are expected to be hit by heavy snowfall from late afternoon and overnight.

Initial weather warnings expect the region to be widely affected with particular focus in the north of Hampshire.

People are being warned to expect widespread disruption to transport networks over the next two days. Employers are encouraged to consider allowing staff to leave early today and staggering departures, wherever possible, to get home safely and avoid traffic congestion. Keeping the roads clear is particularly crucial at this time in order for salting lorries to be able to travel the network and salt the roads without delay.

Residents planning journeys for later today are advised to reconsider venturing out if their journey is not essential. If people do have to travel they should make sure they have warm clothes and a blanket, food, water, boots, a torch, spade and a fully charged mobile phone. They should also let someone know their route and when they are expected to arrive.

To assist the highway authority, Hampshire County Council, staff from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will continue to target the borough council owned car parks and facilities, the Top of Town, the train station, the cemetery and Leisure Park.

Extra crews are currently working to catch up on the missed bin collections following the snow before Christmas. Grey bin collections are currently up to date and green bins were due to be collected by Saturday (9 January). Should the snow prevent further collections on Wednesday onwards the crews, once conditions are safe, will continue the rounds where they left off to minimise further delays. Residents are advised to keep their bins out for collection.

The borough council will continue to provide services to the public should the predicted bad weather unfold. Residents are advised to call the contact centre on 01256 844844 if they need to access a council service.

Corporate Director for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Karen Brimacombe said: “We obviously hope the borough doesn’t experience the extreme weather conditions we saw before Christmas, however heavy snowfall is being predicted. We would urge those people that live and work in the borough to make sure they are prepared.

“This is likely to last some time and there will obviously be some disruption caused by the extreme weather conditions, but we are doing all that we can to support the highway authority and the emergency services in preparing and planning for the predicted bad weather.”

The council is urging people to follow the advice that its partners across the borough have released.

The advice for people with children at school is to check the school’s own website as decisions about school closures will be made independently by the head teacher and governing body. Details about school closures for Wednesday 6 January will be available on the BBC Hampshire web page as they are notified.

People are urged to be good neighbours and look out for their elderly neighbours.

Residents can help elderly people by seeing if their neighbours need any shopping so they don’t have to make any unnecessary journeys and help keep their driveways clear of ice and snow so their carers can access them safely, or if older residents do choose to venture out that they can do so safely.

Those people who receive care through the county council’s adult services will be advised of the severe weather implications via the HantsDirect on 0845 603 5630. This number can also be used for people who fall outside of this group. Alternatively visit http://www3.hants.gov.uk/weather-conditions

In general people are advised to go in, stay in, tune in – regularly check the local radio and TV new and BBC websites for the latest information from the emergency services and local authorities.

For further advice on driving safely on winter roads visit the Highways Agency on www.highways.gov.uk