5th January 2010 16.00pm
Gloucestershire County Council is encouraging people to be prepared for heavy snow overnight.
The Met Office is predicting up to15 cms of snow will hit the county this afternoon and continue falling well into tomorrow.
The council is doing all it can to keep the county moving including sending out its snow ploughs to clear snow and its 34 teams of gritters to help prevent ice forming on the roads.
But members of the public are being urged to take their own precautions as well.
People are advised to not to leave work too late tonight and if possible make arrangements to start work later in the morning.
For those who are able to work from home, the council is advising them to take this option tomorrow and only use the car if it is essential. All routes are open and passable with care at the moment and bus operators will be making decisions locally so passengers should check if their service is running.
More than 70 schools across the county are currently closed because of the adverse weather. The decision to close schools will be taken by each headteacher individually. Parents and carers are advised to use www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/closedschools; www.glosclosedschools.com or www.glosclosedschools.co.uk to check if their child’s school is open before setting out tomorrow morning.
They can also listen to local radio stations for further information.
People are also urged to be a good neighbour and as the cold weather sets in remember to check that older and vulnerable people in our communities are safe and well. Gloucestershire County Council’s Village Agents will be getting out and about more than usual, checking people are comfortable, warm and well supplied with food and drink.
If you have any concerns about an older or vulnerable person, contact the county council’s Adult Helpdesk on 01452 426868. The web address is www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/keepwarm
Cllr Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment, said: “Over the next 24 hours we’re expecting some pretty heavy snow to fall across the county and people have to be prepared. “Our gritting teams are working as hard as possible to keep the roads clear, but I would encourage people to be responsible, look out for each other and only drive if it’s essential. “If you have to go out in the car, take extra care, check www.gloucestershire.gov.uk and listen to your local radio station in advance to plan your journey.”
For tips on driving safer in winter visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/winter