Snow Worries - We're Ready Say Ealing Council

---

Colder weather snap brings thoughts of gritting once again

With temperatures dipping to freezing, thoughts of snow - and the chaos it can cause locally - are never far from the horizon.

Rumours are that the white stuff could arrive even earlier than it did last year.

Councils throughout the country are currently having to make massive budget cuts raising fears that road gritting could become one of the casualties.

But Ealing Council say this is not the case and are reasuring residents that as an authority they are prepared:

A spokesperson said: ''This year we have 4,500 tonnes of grit in stock. This is more than last year prior to the winter maintenance programme, when we had more than adequate stock.  

"The council has 11 gritters on standby during the winter period which spread 15 tonnes of grit when every primary route is treated.  

''Last year, for the first time, the council gritted outside sheltered accommodation properties to support older residents in getting out of their homes."

Latest BBC forecasts are for wet and windy weather but snow is possible on high ground:

'' A proper autumn week ahead with low pressure firmly in force to start us off. This will bring cold, blustery and squally showers into Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England from the outset, with some fairly heavy rainfall at times.

''We'll even see a dusting of snow across the tops of the mountains in Scotland and northern England.''

 

 

20th October 2011