Wokingham Borough’s statement on the roads and schools

Copy of notice from Wokingham Borough about the roads and schools during the snow
SEVERE WEATHER – THURSDAY JANUARY 7

Roads and gritting
More than 30 members of staff from Wokingham Borough Council’s Highways Alliance have been working around the clock to keep the borough’s roads as safe and passable as possible.

Since the first heavy snow fell in mid-December the council has used more than 1,700 tonnes of salt on the borough’s roads and has been receiving deliveries of salt on a frequent basis – and a further delivery is expected later today (Thursday January 7). Gritting lorries and snow ploughs worked continuously throughout last night (January 6) and the primary and secondary routes in the Wokingham Borough were gritted twice.

Gritters will continue to salt more than 200 miles of road today and this evening to keep the borough’s primary and secondary routes as hazard free as possible during the bad weather. Contractors who cannot work on waste collection and street sweeping, as these services are currently suspended, are being employed to assist with snow clearing.

The borough’s primary routes include:
• A3290 and A329M – the main routes between Wokingham and Reading
• Principal A roads
• Main distributor roads and busy roads
Secondary routes include:
• Main roads leading to schools and hospitals
• Bus routes
• Some residential roads and rural roads

From Friday January 8, the council will also arrange for clearance works to begin on minor residential roads in the Wokingham Borough.

The council’s contractors have been busy in Woodley and Wokingham town centres clearing snow and ice from many pavements. Salt bins are also being replenished today and tomorrow.
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Fallen trees
Since the fall of heavy snow on Tuesday, the council has had five contracting companies making dangerous trees safe and clearing fallen trees from the public highway on over 50 sites throughout the borough. The tree team, in conjunction with the highways department, has been prioritising to clear fallen trees from the main routes throughout the borough to ensure gritting vehicles and emergency services can pass along these roads without obstruction.

Schools
• Almost all Wokingham Borough Council primary schools have confirmed they will be closed tomorrow Friday January 8. (As at 4.30pm on January 7, Gorse Ride Infant School, Gorse Ride Junior School and Winnersh Primary School had yet to confirm to the borough council whether they be opening / closing – check school websites for latest information or listen to local radio.)
• All Wokingham Borough Council secondary schools have confirmed they will be closed except for Maiden Erlegh School which will be open to year 11 students only.
• The Bulmershe and The Forest schools will be open on Monday January 11 for exams.
• Parents and guardians are advised to listen to local radio and check their children’s school’s website in the morning for the latest information.

Children’s centres
All Wokingham Borough children’s centres will be closed tomorrow (Friday January 8).

Waste and recycling collections
Waste and recycling collections and clinical waste collections have been suspended owing to the heavy snow. Today’s (January 7) uncollected waste and recycling will be collected on the next scheduled collection day. Residents are asked not to put their waste and recycling out until the next collection date is due.

Civic Amenity Sites
Both Smallmead and Longshot Lane civic amenity sites are closed today (January 7) and may well remain closed tomorrow, please call ahead on (0118) 974 6000.

Loddon Bridge Park and Ride
Loddon Bridge Park and Ride is closed today and may well remain closed tomorrow, please call ahead on (0118) 989 2891.

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Elderly and vulnerable people
This severe weather can cause particular problems for elderly and vulnerable people in the Wokingham Borough, so the council is urging everyone to look out for their neighbours and check they have enough food at home and are warm and looked after.

Keep off frozen rivers, ponds and lakes
In addition to the obvious hazards on the road network, please also remember the dangers of trying to walk or skate on iced rivers, ponds and lakes and the council urges residents to keep off them.

Residents should check the council’s website at: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/emergencies/borough-alert for updates on the latest situation in the Wokingham Borough.

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Note to editors:

Any emergency updates or core changes to our services will be posted here http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/environment/emergencies/borough-alert overnight.