Snow patrol seeks volunteers to keep city's streets clear

VOLUNTEERS are being recruited for a snow patrol scheme to keep York's roads and pavements clear of ice after the city council was inundated with calls during the big freeze.

The project is being launched after sub-zero temperatures in recent months and during the last winter have placed intense pressure on York Council's own services.

A similar scheme has already been launched elsewhere in the region after a team of 50 volunteers was recruited to help with gritting duties in Sheffield.

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The York initiative has been drawn up by the leader of the council's Green group, Andy D'Agorne, who claimed the scheme would also free up council resources while the public sector battled massive funding cutbacks.

He said: "Council staff clear main routes for public transport and emergency services, but we have now experienced prolonged cold spells where snow and ice can remain for days and weeks.

"People are willing to help out but need the tools and confidence to do a job safely. This plan seems to work well in Sheffield where terrain is much more difficult and I hope it will be helpful here."

The scheme will see wardens called out by text messages after a heavy snowfall to help to keep the city's streets clear of ice.

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They will meet with council staff and help clear smaller roads, while the local authority can focus on ensuring access to major routes.

The volunteers will also be covered by the council's own insurance policies, so that they cannot be individually sued if anyone falls on a road that had been cleared by them.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in July last year that a review of winter maintenance had been launched after councillors received complaints following 2009's big freeze, which was the coldest winter for more than 30 years.

Concerns were raised about the state of footpaths as well as some roads and cycle paths which the public felt had not been gritted.

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Issues were also raised about the positioning of salt bins in the city, leading to plans being drawn up for the overhaul of the council's winter maintenance services.

Anyone who wants to volunteer for the Snow Patrol scheme can contact York Council on 01904 551841 or e-mail [email protected].