Friday, 29 October 2021 11:12

Volunteers throughout the county are being called on to help clear snow and ice from Derbyshire's roads and pavements this winter.

Derbyshire County Council would like to hear from residents and farmers willing to help keep their communities safe when bad weather hits to supplement the work carried out by the council's own gritting teams.

Town and parish councils and schools help to clear snow in their areas as part of the council’s Snow Warden Scheme. Last year the council extended the scheme to enable voluntary and community groups to take part. Each group is given a free delivery of up to a tonne of bagged grit and given training and advice on how to clear snow and ice safely.

Snow wardens get involved in:

clearing snow and ice from their community’s pavements
reporting local weather conditions through the council’s website
co-ordinating volunteers to clear snow and distribute grit
reporting empty grit bins.

Farmers and others with ploughing or gritting equipment are also being asked to work as contractors to help keep their local roads on the move from now until next April.

Anyone taken on as a contractor will get £200 for signing up plus get extra payments for call outs.

Farmers and contractors need to:

provide their own equipment
be available to work 7am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday – although extra help may be requested if conditions are particularly severe
arrange appropriate insurance
be able to respond to a call out within 90 minutes.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said: “We really do appreciate the support of all our volunteers and farmer contractors to help keep the county moving if bad weather hits.

“I’d urge any local council or community group to have a think about helping their local community by clearing pavements when it snows. And for any farmers who have the right equipment to help with clearing snow on our rural roads to get in touch.”

Town and parish councils, schools and other community groups interested in volunteering can find out more and sign up by sending an email to snow@derbyshire.gov.uk

For information about the farmers and contractors scheme go to the council’s website.