Frost & Snow Precautions
County Council Services
Services expected from WSCC include:
- Delivery of bulk bags (as resources permit).
- Pre-treatment of selected principal roads.
- Reactive treatment of roads when resources permit.
Advice
In a recent letter sent by the Ministry of Justice it stated that:
“ The prospects of a person who volunteers to clear snow from a pavement being successfully sued for damages by a person who subsequently slips on the cleared area and is injured are very small.”
However, a snow clearer does have a duty to clear with reasonable care so as not to create a new and worse risk.
Therefore:
DO:
- Move snow to a porous surface such as a grass verge or garden.
- Spread salt/grit evenly and at appropriate spread rates.
- Clear any excess salt of grit once the snow/ice has melted.
DO NOT:
- Use water to melt snow and ice, if there is a risk it will refreeze.
- Move snow to a location where it will create another risk such as another part of the pavement, road or where people are likely to walk.
- Use excessive salt, grit or other materials so as to create a new or worse risk once the snow/ice has melted.
Parish Provisions
Bulk salt supplies in Hippo Bags from West Sussex County Council are stored at:
Adsdean Farm, Adsdean (Mr. T. Hoare)
New Barns, Funtington Straight (Mr. N. Baird)
Access can be arranged through either the Chairman of the Parish Council or the Community Safety
Co-ordinator Nick La Hive (for contact details see list of Parish Councillors).
Spread rates
The amount of salt applied to a surface varies depending on the forecast temperature and conditions. Typically:
- Surface temperatures between 0oC and –2oC, ice or hoar frost anticipated – 10gms/sq.m. of road surface.
- Surface temperatures below –2oC, ice or hoar frost anticipated – 20gms/sq.m.of road surface.
- When snow is anticipated - 40gms/sq.m.of road surface.
Salt supplied by WSCC is for use on the public highway only. It is not for use on private land or drives.
Although salt/grit can be spread effectively with shovels, care is required to ensure that over treatment does not occur. Push along devices such as lawn fertiliser distributors can be used to cover larger areas and give a more even spread.
Salt becomes progressively less effective at surface temperatures below –5oC.
Further advice can be obtained from highwaysandtransport@westsussex.gov.uk as shown in the latest issue of
West Sussex Connections, page 6 (recently distributed).
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