WINTER MAINTENANCE UPDATE 2

FROM COUNTY COUNCIL

 

Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning update

Northern area – RST below zero on high ground, marginal elsewhere.  Showers falling as snow on high ground with accumulations on lower Pennine routes.

Southern area – scattered wintry showers during the evening in Pennine areas with RSTs sub zero.  Marginal temperatures elsewhere.  Snow drifting on the highest roads in the west with depths to 600mm in places.  High Pennine resources continuing to plough on the highest roads this morning.  Trailer gritter routes treated this morning.

 

Actions

Northern area – pre-salted at 4 pm and 4am as well as snow salting at 4pm and 4am.  

Southern area – pre-salted at 5am and snow salted some areas at 4pm and others at 7pm as well as 4am.  Ploughing carried out in some areas at 4pm and 4am.  Note lower level routes start delayed last night due to rain showers.

 

Streetscene and refuse

Continued to grit main streets in all areas.

Recycling and refuse picking up all bins left out and trying to return to pick up bins that were put out a day late.  Are still a few streets where there are access problems eg one in Craghead, Satley and Cornsay.    

 

Wednesday 30 December/Thursday 31 December

Cold and windy this afternoon with a lot of cloud and further showers, these falling as snow over high level roads in the west. This evening and tonight there will still be occasional showers blown in from the North Sea on a brisk north-easterly wind. These showers will turn increasingly wintry even at low levels by the end of the night as colder air starts to return. In-between the showers there will be fairly lengthy dry spells with enough breaks in the cloud to allow RSTs to fall below zero with widespread ice, the ice made worse where the wintry showers fall on frozen surfaces. Cold tomorrow with sunny spells and scattered showers of hail, sleet and snow.

 

1-3cm additional snow likely in Pennine areas from the showers, mainly above 300m this afternoon and above 100m by tomorrow morning. Perhaps local slight accumulations elsewhere late in the night and tomorrow morning.

 

Winter conditions in Upper Weardale

A689 at Killhope is now closed due to drifting snow (approx 300mm deep).  The contractor is continuing to plough.

Road closures on road C20 Blanchland to Crawleyside (Stanhope) and C21 Rookhope to Allenheads where drifting snow (up to 600mm deep) has again closed roads.

Road B6278 at Shaftwell Head between Stanhope and Egglestone is passable with care.

B6276 Lunedale road clsoed due to snow drifts on the Cumbria side of border.

 

Actions

Northern area – Crews on standby depot at 3 pm and other 2 depots at 6pm.  All crews on standby at 4am tomorrow.

Southern area – Crews on standby for Pennines at 3pm, other depots at 6pm.  All crews on standby at 4am tomorrow including trailer gritters.

 

Streetscene and refuse

Continuing to grit main streets in all areas and assisting refuse vehicles to gain access to streets. 

 

Recycling and refuse bins are being collected today where the bins are being presented for collection.  Teams will continue to catch up on any missed collections today.  Southern area catching up with emptying litter bins .  A press release is to be issued as a reminder to residents about  collections.

 

Possible problems envisaged as the ice thaws, especially with regard to burst pipes.  Over the next few days staff will be alert and ready to act if required to any burst pipes in Council Buildings eg community centres, residential homes etc.   

 

Forecast for next few days

Very cold with RSTs well below zero on each night (and struggling to rise above zero in places by day). Sleet and snow showers are possible at times, blowing in from the North Sea and giving a few cms over higher routes especially during Thursday and Thursday night. Fewer showers Friday but a risk of more widespread snow showers for a time on Saturday (low confidence). Drier Sunday/Monday but showers of rain/sleet/snow are still possible in the east. Increasing risk of freezing fog patches inland.

 

Winter Weather Information

To access the weather summary page please click on the link below.

 

http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?Serviceld=929

 

WINTER MAINTENANCE UPDATE 1

Monday evening/Tuesday morning update

Northern area – RST below zero.  Slight flurry of snow showers early am.  Southern area – RST well below zero overnight and this morning.  A few isolated light snow showers reported mainly in the Pennine areas.

 

Both areas pre-salted at 6pm on Monday 28 Dec and snow salted at 4am Tuesday 29 Dec. 

 

Tuesday 29 December 2009

Rather cloudy this afternoon with scattered showers, falling as snow above around 150 metres. Overnight, further scattered showers – again falling as snow above around 150 metres – accumulations likely, especially on the Pennines. Lower down, rain and sleet showers. Tomorrow morning, as slightly colder air arrives the snow could fall to lower levels, although accumulations are currently not expected at these lower levels. RSTs below zero on higher ground, especially in snow. Lower down, they are likely to be marginal, but probably remaining just above zero for much of the time.

 

Snow showers bringing 1-4cms above 150 metres, and perhaps as much as 8cms or so across the higher Pennines. Brisk easterly winds bring the risk of drifting on the higher roads.

 

Actions

Northern area – crews on standby 4pm Tuesday 29 December and 4am Wednesday 30 December.  Pre-salt all routes at 4pm today.  Note both shifts to be held for posible futher action due to snow forecast.

Southern area – crews on standby at 4pm Tuesday 29 December and 4 or 5am on Wednesday 30 December(depending on depot location).

 

Streetscene and refuse – teams are continuing today to work on gritting priority footpaths in all areas.  Also some work is being done to clear access for refuse vehicles.

 

Winter Weather Information

To access the weather summary page please click on the link below.

 

http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?Serviceld=929

COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH IN WITTON GILBERT AND PITY ME

speedwatch-crop.JPG

Councillor Mark Wilkes was joined by local resident Adam Walker in Pity Me, and by Parish Councillor Arnie Simpson in Witton Gilbert to carry out a community speedwatch with Durham Constabulary officers.

The speedwatch comes after concerns raised by councillors about speeding in both villages.. The local community, through PACT meetings had also raised concerns about speeding. It is hoped that the evidence from this event will help both the police and the County Council when determining what needs to be done in the area.

Community speed watch allows local residents to write down the details of cars speeding over 33mph in a 30mph zone. Anyone recorded is then sent a warning letter advising them to slow down. 31 cars were recorded travelling over 33mph on Abbey Road in Pity Me, and 9 were recorded in Witton Gilbert. A considerable number more were recorded between 30 and 33 mph.

Councillor Wilkes commented “I have always thought that with any problem it must be tackled in a number of different ways. Education, a bit of carrot and stick and improvements to the road infrastructure can all be used to slow people down.”

“We recorded around 40 people over the two sites speeding, which clearly shows that in both locations, additional work is required. The amazing thing was that even though we were very visible with flourescent jackets, and signs, some vehicles were still recorded driving above 40mph in 30 zones. It was clear that a large number of vehicles had already slowed down by the time they reached the speed camera, so the true figure is clearly significantly higher.

Councillor Wilkes continued “If someone is knocked over by a car travelling at 40mph there is a 90% change they will be killed. If a car is driving at 30mph this drops to just 10%. I would ask all drivers to think about this very seriously.”

Councillor Wilkes now hopes that additional highways work can be carried out in Witton Gilbert, through the creation of a gateway to the village which will allow 30mph signs and road markings to be installed. He has also requested surveys for 20mph zones outside schools in Bearpark, Witton Gilbert and Framwellgate Moor following on from a recent change in council policy.

He said “I hope that this excellent work between the police, the community, and local councillors will continue, and I also want to see if the County Council is willing to look more closely at possible speed limit changes and highways work in a number of locations.”

MAJOR SUCCESS IN SAVING WITTON GILBERT PLAY AREA

At a full cabinet meeting this week i questioned the Portfolio Mebmer for Housing about the proposed housing development on the Findon Avenue Play Area (Some call it Shetland Field). I have for many months now been working with officers of the council to ensure that the homes are built in the division and that the play area is protected.

I can now confirm that the Council has agreed to this and that the play area is protected. I reported this to the Witton Gilbert Residents Group this week, which was met with much relief.

The work must now start to ensure that  the field is protected from any potential future plans for development.

DOG WASTE BIN DELAY

There is a delay in the siting of dog waste bins due to the sheer volume of work for council workers.

We are waiting for two bins in Brasside and one on Woodbine Road in Pity Me. I am also requesting an additional two bins, one for Alexandra Close and another for a location to be decided. If there is a particular area where you feel there are serious problems please let me know.

BRIDGEMERE DRIVE TIDY UP ON THE CARDS

I have been working with officers and have put in funding to remove the dangerous fencing at the entrance to Bridgemere Drive which is currently at risk of falling into the woodland and is only held up by a few trees.

The front row of trees will be removed, all the land filled in to be level with the pavement, and the whole area grassed. This should make visibility far better and stop the perennial problem of the area filling up with rubbish which is difficult to clear.

WINTER PLANTING OF FLOWER TUBS COMPLETED

The winter planting of the flower tubs in Framwelgate Moor, Pity Me and Brasside has been completed by Finchale College. This was funded by my City Council allowance form last year/ Whilst they don’t need as much watering at this time of year, thanks to everyone who is still tending to them. Hopefully the current and upcoming bad weather won’t do doo much damage. In the srping they should look great.