The Met Office has issued an amber warning across eastern areas of Derbyshire – mainly in the Peak District – from midday to 6pm, with predictions of up to 10cm to 15cm of snow falling widely and up to 25cm over higher ground.
A yellow warning for snow remains in place across most of the county from 6am tomorrow until 6am on Friday with between 2cm and 5cm of snow predicted in lower lying areas.
We are gearing up for the expected snowfall and have a number of measures in place to keep the county moving and ensure older and vulnerable residents are cared for and safe.
Our fleet of 35 gritters, which can all be fitted with snow ploughs when needed, are ready to work around the clock from 6 depots around the county and the authority has a stockpile of 18,000 tonnes of salt (generally referred to as grit).
Around half of the 3,500 miles of road that we are responsible for are on gritting routes, and major roads, known as primary routes will be gritted first and where necessary ploughed, followed by secondary routes which include bus routes in residential areas and well-used main roads through housing estates and villages.
The gritting teams will be backed by a team of farmers and other contractors who are on standby to help clear roads where needed and a number of volunteer snow wardens will also be out helping to keep pavements and public spaces clear and safe.
Highways officers have warned road users not to assume that roads have been gritted when driving and to check on our website for the latest updates.
Our frontline care staff are also making plans to ensure they can reach older and vulnerable people in the community.
We are preparing to:
- use 4x4 vehicles to help health and social care staff reach residents in their homes
- prioritise visits to ensure the most vulnerable receive the care they need
- help other agencies, including those in the independent sector, reach their clients
We're urging residents to be prepared and take some simple steps to make sure they stay safe and well during the cold snap and snowfall.
These include:
- ensuring you have enough medication you may rely on and other supplies, for example food and baby milk
- keeping your home warm – your main living room should be between around 18°C to 21°C (65°F to 70°F) and the rest of your house at a minimum of 16°C
- being a good neighbour and checking on older neighbours and relatives
Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Infrastructure Councillor Charlotte Cupit said:
“Latest forecasts suggest widespread snowfall across Derbyshire tomorrow with up to 10cm on higher ground.
“Our gritting teams work extremely hard day and night to keep roads clear and make sure the county is safe and moving.
“It’s not realistic to be able to grit every single road so we target our gritting on the roads that benefit the greatest number of people and the most important services.
“If the weather is as predicted, we’d urge motorists not to make journeys unless absolutely necessary and use public transport where possible – but check services are running before you leave home. We’d also ask people to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable neighbours.
“We’ll continue to monitor conditions closely throughout the day and will respond accordingly.”
For more information view our snow info where you can find:
- links to the latest weather updates
- what’s happening on the roads and gritting routes
- whether a particular road has been gritted and when
- where the nearest grit bin is
- tips on winter driving