Wrexham currently has 5 days of salt left if treating roads continues at the present rate. There have been no deliveries of salt since Friday. Central Government has now taken over the supply of salt to local authorities on a priority basis.
Following government advice to conserve stocks of salt three options have been considered by the Emergency Management Response Team:
1. Reduce rate of spread by 25% saving 40 tonnes per shift.
2. Reduce to a single turn out of gritters
3. Reduce evening turnout to cover Trunk, Class A & b Roads only – full Priority 1 treatment for morning turnout
Using delegated authority Isobel Garner, Chief Executive, took the decision, on the advice of the Emergency Management Response Team, to follow Option 3. It is expected that this will give a 20% reduction in the salt being used.
Cllr David Bithell, Lead Member for the Environment and Transport, said:
“It is important that we ensure that we follow our code of practice and we will not be reducing our rate of application of rock salt. These are unprecedented times where some local authorities have already run out of salt. These measures will ensure that we keep our main routes open longer and ensure that access is maintained to the majority of our schools and areas of employment.”
With the above measures in place Wrexham has 7 days supply of salt.
Wrexham Council regrets that it cannot respond to individual requests for gritting from members of the public during this period of time.
All council car parks are open and users are advised to use caution.
Further information about Bin Collections.
Refuse collectors will be out for the rest of the week. Residents should put out both bins on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, all recyclables and any residual waste. Changes are still in place following the Christmas bank holidays and residents are asked to check bin stickers for their next day of collection. From Friday only one bin will be collected as and residents are asked to check their sticker and calendar for which colour bin to put out. Information is available on the Bin Collections page or by calling Contact Wrexham 01978 298989. All collections should return to normal on Monday 18th January 2010.
All possible attempts will be made to empty the bins and recyclables in these areas but as the conditions remain severe Wrexham Council cannot give a guarantee that this will happen and it is likely that operators will not be able to reach some areas.
Youth Football
Wrexham Primary Schools Football Association Under 11 Representative Squad.
Monday night training has been cancelled and the game on Saturday versus Flintshire at the Queensway Sports Stadium is in doubt.
Please telephone Terry Walker – Headteacher, Ysgol Deiniol, Marchwiel 01978 353760
Public Transport
The majority of bus routes remained operational throughout this morning although with some routes disrupted. The Environment Services and Transportation and Asset Management Departments have played a large part in ensuring that major bus routes have been cleared. Information on those bus routes which are operating can be found on the Council’s website in www.wrexham.gov.uk/bus
Schools
This morning 75 of the County Borough’s 77 schools were open. In order to find out which schools are closed check the Council’s website or tune in to Heart FM. For those parents and guardians whose children are eligible for free school transport school bus and taxi providers know that they should make every effort to get children to school. If parents want to know if school transport is running on Monday they are advised to check with the bus or taxi provider and details can be found on http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/events/severe_weather.htm#q3 Information can can also be found by calling the Education Transport Team at Wrexham County Borough Council on 292056.
Glyndwr University
University suspends start of term due to cold weather
Given the recent bad weather, which is expected to continue for several days, the decision has been taken to close Glyndwr University to staff and students from Thursday 7 January. It will remain closed to all on Friday 8 January and Monday 11 January.
It is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday 12 January to staff, but the University has suspended the start of the new term for students by a week. The spring term will now begin on Monday 18 January.
The effects of the adverse weather conditions are likely to last for some time and Glyndwr University’s reserves of grit have been exhausted.
The University’s problems have arisen because replacement grit supplies, ordered before the start of the cold snap, have now been diverted to local authorities and the region’s hospitals as the whole of the UK runs short of salt and sand. As the University has exhausted its existing supplies, it is no longer in a position to guarantee the safety of either the Wrexham or Northop campuses. It has reluctantly therefore decided to delay the new term by a week.
University officials are now working to minimise the impact this delay will have on the rest of the academic year.
Arrangements are being made for the rescheduling of exams, originally intended to be held this week.
Students are advised to check the Glyndwr University homepage for more information at http://www.glyndwr.ac.uk/en/Contactus/PressOffice/Pressreleases2009/Messagetostaffandstudents/
or call the Student Information Desk on 01978 293439
Welfare Issues
Social Care staff are continuing to respond to clients needs. Residents throughout the county borough are asked to be alert and aware of any elderly and vulnerable in the community and of the need wherever possible to provide support to help them remain warm and safe or to contact social services on 01978 292066.
Leisure Facilities
The county borough’s leisure facilities are all open as normal with the exception of Coedpoeth.
All Council owned football pitches were closed this weekend and a decision will be taken later in the week regarding next weekend. The telephone number for football pitch booking is 01978 364920.
Information about council leisure facilities including the Museum and Library services is available on 01978 297140 and on our website http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/index.cfm
