Latest information regarding snow disruption
Gritting
North East Lincolnshire Council and Balfour Beatty are continuing their efforts to clear the road network and car parks as part of the response to the severe weather.
The council take their winter service operations extremely seriously, but it is important to recognise that there is a serious commitment involved in keeping major highways and other important routes safe. These routes are therefore prioritised.
The categorising of routes for highway winter service is determined due to the amount and nature of traffic that would normally be expected to use the route.
In determining those routes the following general principle has been applied:
• ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads will be treated, together with other main routes that provide access to the main rural areas and main population centres within the urban area.
• Principal bus routes within the urban areas have also been included.
Hundreds of public-spirited residents have already taken to the streets to clear snow and ice from footpaths and side roads and have continued to check and help the vulnerable people in their community. The council is asking for more residents to do their bit for their communities and has issued the following information and advice:
Clearing footpaths
Where it is safe to do so, residents are encouraged to clear their own footpaths and areas outside their properties. However, the council asks that snow and ice should not be piled up on public footpaths or roads causing an obstruction to other road or pavement users. Don't forget pedestrians need access as well as vehicles. For advice on clearing snow and ice from pavements visit the following website:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868
Salt drops
To help with the gritting of public footpaths, the council has liaised with councillors to determine key strategic locations within each ward where residents can collect small quantities of salt. The salt must not be used to grit private paths and driveways. It is only for use on public areas to benefit the whole community.
Parking enforcement
The council has suspended its routine patrols but will continue to enforce on vehicles that are parked dangerously. Motorists are asked to be sensible about where they park. A badly or inconsiderately parked vehicle can cause long tail-backs of traffic, particularly in areas where roads are narrower than normal due to the build-up of snow.
Vulnerable residents
Be a good neighbour and check-on people in your community who may be elderly or living on their own, to make sure they are OK. It only takes five minutes but could be a life-line to a vulnerable person.
Car parks -
The following car parks are open:
Grimsby:
- Abbey Walk, except the roof.
- Duchess Street
- Cartergate
- Town Hall
- Burgess Street
- Market Hall Roof
- Somerfields
- Garibaldi Street
- Wellington Terrace
Cleethorpes:
- St Peter's Ave
- High Street
- Civic Offices
The following car parks are closed in North East Lincolnshire and work is on-going to open these as soon as possible.
Grimsby:
- Fishing Heritage Centre
- Waltham Road
Cleethorpes:
- Wardall Street
- Yarra Road
- All seafront car parks including Cleethorpes Leisure Centre
Public Transport
For the latest information on the availability of public transport, please visit the appropriate operator website.
• For buses visit http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdates.aspx
• For rail (Cleethorpes-Barton) visit http://www.northernrail.org/news
• For rail (Cleethorpes/Grimsby - Manchester Airport) visit http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/train-journey-notice
• For rail (Cleethorpes/Grimsby - Lincoln) visit http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk
Safety message - frozen waters
The council is warning people against the dangers of venturing onto the borough’s frozen lakes and rivers.
Due to the ongoing severe weather and lower than average temperatures, many waters have frozen over including Grimsby’s Riverhead area.
Councillor Peter Burgess, portfolio holder for environment and the green agenda, said: “Whilst many of our lakes and rivers have frozen over people should not risk their lives by walking on to them.
“We are urging everyone to keep off the frozen lakes no matter how safe people think they look. People need to take responsibility for their own safety. They are putting their own lives at risk and those of others by doing this.
“The situation is made worse when people try to break up the ice where they are standing to test its thickness."
Cemetery Services
We are pleased to advise that following a review on Wednesday, December 8, Cleethorpes municipal cemetery will re-open for services with immediate effect. Officers are talking to funeral directors about the re-scheduling of all services, which were cancelled earlier this week due to the adverse weather and conditions at the site.
Considerable resources were deployed over the past few days to clear roads within and leading to the cemetery, and in the areas where funeral services were scheduled to take place.
Furthermore, the council has committed to providing a minimum 72 hours notice should they again need to close the cemetery due extreme weather conditions.
The safety of staff and the general public is of paramount importance.
We understand the inconvenience that has been caused by the cancellation of services earlier in the week. However, this decision was unavoidable as a result of circumstances which were beyond our control.
Scartho Road Cemetery (Grimsby) is currently being treated. It is a significantly larger site than Cleethorpes and it is likely to take some time to ensure it is safe to use. It is likely to remain closed to services for the next two days.
The situation will be reviewed with a view to re-open by Monday, December 13.