LIB DEM SCHEME TO BOOST SNOW SAFETY GIVEN CABINET GO-AHEAD (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

LIB DEM SCHEME TO BOOST SNOW SAFETY GIVEN CABINET GO-AHEAD

October 31, 2007 12:25 PM

Lib Dem scheme to boost snow safety given cabinet go-ahead

Extra winter snow clearance will now take place across the Kirklees area, thanks to a Lib Dem plan approved today by the council's Cabinet Committee. Under the new scheme, extra money will be available for Ward Councillors to pin point streets where high numbers of elderly and disabled residents live. These streets can then be targeted for additional snow clearing, in order to boost safety for vulnerable residents.

Cllr John Smithson, Lib Dem Deputy Leader, says "I am delighted the cabinet have approved this Lib Dem proposal. It is vital that we keep our streets safe during the icy months, and this measure will mean that local councillors can target snow clearing work at those streets where we know there is a real problem for residents. For too long many older people have been virtual prisoners in their homes when their pavements are iced up or covered in snow."

In an effort to improve accessibility in areas with large numbers of vulnerable people pavements will be treated in periods of prolonged ice and snow.

This scheme will make sure the pavements are safe to walk on and enable people to get out and about, go shopping and visit people. Icy pavements bring a real risk of slipping and falling, often causing serious injuries.

"Removing the ice and snow cuts the risk of falls and means residents will be less likely to injure themselves, and more likely to feel able to get out and about during winter," Cllr Smithson concluded.