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Community spirit can help beat winter blues

Taking simple steps to improve your local area could help to boost community spirits and beat the winter blues.

Aberdeen City Council is encouraging people to do their bit this winter to help keep the city moving and residents safe.

Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure director Gordon McIntosh said: “Over the past few years when we have experienced particularly harsh winters we have seen a good show of community spirit in some parts of the city. People rallied round to support those who were less able to get out and about. Many helped considerably just by clearing paths in front of their homes, which resulted in the pavements and roads being able to be used earlier than they would have been otherwise.

“During these periods of low temperatures and heavy snowfalls it’s always important that everyone in the community keeps an eye out for the frail, elderly and vulnerable members of the community and do what they can to help, even if it’s just letting us know that someone needs help.

“Of course the council can help individuals, but as much as we would like to, we can’t do everything for everyone. If you have particular concerns about someone’s welfare in the winter, please do what you can to help them and let the council know if more help is needed.”

Mr McIntosh added: “Simple things like clearing a path or collecting shopping can make a huge difference to those members of the community who struggle to get out during the bad weather.”

During periods of prolonged snow the council concentrates its snow clearing efforts on priority routes. This means that side roads and pavements are not cleared until the priority routes are safe. It is not practical or possible to clear all streets and pavements immediately and the priority routes must be done first.

Aberdeen City Council provides grit bins which the public, as well as council staff, can use to treat the streets. This grit should not be used for treating private property. If a grit box needs to be refilled, please call 08456 080919 or call 01224 241511 and leave a message, stating the location of the box, or use the Report It link on the city council website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

“Anyone who wants to can clear the pavements outside their homes or shops and we will be more than happy to see that happen,” said Mr McIntosh.

The Scottish Government has published guidance on its Ready Scotland website www.ReadyScotland.org which states that there is no law against people clearing snow and ice on the paths leading to or pavements in front their homes or other properties they are responsible for.

It also states that ordinary household building or contents insurance generally provides personal liability cover for everyday activities people might carry out to help neighbours, including snow clearing, and that people are “highly unlikely” to be found responsible for any accidents providing they are careful, use common sense and don't do anything which would be likely to cause harm or distress to others.

The weather forecast and predicted roads temperatures are being monitored daily and the details posted on the council website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/gritting along with information about where salting and snow clearing work is taking place.

The council is starting the winter with over 16,000 tonnes of salt with a further 6,000 tonnes due for delivery in November. This is the largest stockpile of salt the council has ever had for winter operations.

If there is a particular problem on a road, please call the Aberdeen City Council contact centre on 08456 080919. Problems can also be reported using the Report It link on the city council website at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

The Scottish Government has created a website to help people prepare for the winter weather. Ready Scotland (www.ReadyScotland.org) contains practical advice and the simple steps people can take to protect themselves, their families, their communities and their businesses from the worst effects of all kinds of bad weather.

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