Winter review calls for snow guidance

An independent review of how England coped with severe winter weather over the past two years is calling for guidance to reassure individuals they won’t be sued for clearing snow from pavements.

The review echoes concerns raised by the LG Association in its own report on the impact of last winter’s weather, which was published earlier this month.

The Association said clear advice should be issued to individuals and organisations on clearing snow and ice from outside their homes and offices.

The independent review was set up by the previous government to examine the winter resilience of England’s roads and transport systems. Transport expert David Quarmby, who chaired the review, said it had been concerned to hear that people were worried about possible litigation.
He said: “We are recommending a simple code of practice, to be drawn up by government, distributed by local authorities and promoted to householders and businesses.

“This would set clear advice for self-help, and – if observed – guard the public against negligence claims.”
The independent review also recommends that councils consult with local communities on the road networks that should be treated during harsh weather.

It says 250,000 tonnes of salt should be stored and managed by the Highways Agency and made available to councils at a premium price, to encourage them to build up their own stocks.

And the review calls for new research to provide councils with authoritative guidance on how they can use salt more efficiently.
Cllr David Sparks, vice-chairman of the LG Association, said councils had already been working hard to update their extreme weather plans, replenish salt stocks and order new gritting lorries – as they did every year.

He said: “The gritting season will be with us in three months, and councils need to know all the salt they have ordered will be in place.”
The LG Association’s own report on the impact of last winter’s weather, ‘Weathering the storm II’, was published earlier this month.

It made 10 recommendations, including more cooperation between neighbouring authorities on issues such as holding joint reserves of salt stocks covering a wider area.