Following freezing overnight temperatures, adverse weather is continuing to affect some services in Portsmouth.
roads and pavements
Colas, the council’s contractor, has been out again overnight, spreading salt on around 100 miles of main roads around the city, including the M275. All priority one and priority two routes have been treated but side roads remain untreated. As temperatures overnight were freezing, side roads are extremely icy. The advice to motorists continues to be only to drive if absolutely necessary and to be extremely careful. Over the past few days, 375 tonnes of salt have been spread on the city’s main roads by four gritting lorries, which have been working around the clock.
Advice on safe driving and preparing for journeys is on the council website, just visit the home page and click on ‘snow and ice on the roads’ for more information.
Conditions on untreated pavements are also extremely icy and pedestrians are advised to take care. Around 150 staff from Colas and redeployed council staff were out yesterday clearing snow from footpaths, focusing on busy areas.
Crews from Colas were back on the streets at 3am, clearing and gritting pavements in areas including bus terminals, train stations, QA and St Mary’s Hospital, and around busy shopping streets and precincts. Redeployed council staff will also be out with shovels again today, again focusing on busy pedestrian areas.
As the council has previously advised, there is no law preventing residents from clearing snow and ice from pavements.
There are now 69 salt bins at locations across the city, which were being replenished yesterday. A map of salt bins is available on the council website as part of the ‘snow and ice on the roads’ leaflet that is available for download (http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/613.html). Residents are reminded that the salt is for use on public roads and pavements, not for private property.
waste collections
Rubbish and recycling collections continue to be suspended today (Friday) in order to make sure pedestrians, other road users and the crews are safe. Anyone whose collection has been missed is asked to store their rubbish on their property and to check the website and the local media for updates, or to call the city helpdesk on 023 9283 4092. A decision on whether catch-up collections will go-ahead over the weekend will be made early on Saturday morning.
The recycling centre at Port Solent remains closed until further notice.
adult social care
The care and safety of vulnerable people is the council's paramount consideration and are continuing to receive appropriate services. Home care services are running as close to normal as possible and day service staff are being redeployed to support the council's residential units. Although day centres will remain closed today, staff will continue to contact all vulnerable people to ensure they are safe and well.
school closures
Fifty schools and four nurseries have confirmed they will be closed today, the majority because teachers are struggling to get in to work and so there are not enough staff to enable the school to open. A full list of school closures is available on our website at www.portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
The following schools are OPEN today:
Infant, junior and primary schools
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary
Cottage Grove Primary
Moorings Way Infants
Northern Parade Infants
Northern Parade Juniors
St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary
Secondary
Admiral Lord Nelson (open for years 10 and 11)
City of Portsmouth Boys'
Mayfield (open for years 10 and 11)
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