Disruptions Due to the Bad Weather

During adverse weather conditions, some Council services may be affected.  The Council will take all necessary steps to minimise the impact of the weather on its services.  For more information on a particular service, please refer to this page or contact the Customer Contact Centre on: 01509 634563.

The Council would like to confirm that the market is on today and is not likely to be affected by the weather.

This page provides useful links for dealing with cold weather and will be updated with the latest information about any disruptions to services caused by icy conditions.

Guide to Clearing Snow & Ice

THE GOVERNMENT has issued a snow code to advise residents on clearing snow and ice from pavements outside their homes and public spaces.

There's no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces and it’s unlikely you'll be sued or held legally responsible for any injuries on the path if you have cleared it carefully.

 The code gives tips on how to:

•  prevent slips: use more salt on steps and steep pathways.  
• clear the snow or ice early in the day: it’s easier to move fresh, loose snow rather than hard snow that has packed together from people walking on it. Cover the area with salt at night to prevent refreezing overnight. 
• Use salt or sand - not water: if you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it is invisible and very slippery. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt - a tablespoon for each square metre you clear should work. 
• Be a good neighbour: if you think your neighbour will have difficulty getting in and out of their home, offer to clear snow and ice around their property as well. Check that any elderly or disabled neighbours are alright in the cold weather. If you’re worried about them, contact the council.

For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868 .

In Charnwood, Leicestershire County Council is responsible for gritting the highways and can be contacted on 0800 62 62 03.

Use the links below to access more advice about dealing with winter weather.

• Dealing with Winter Weather 
• Cold Weather Warning - Information & Advice
• Information on gritting arrangements

 Other Useful links

Use to the links below to get information and advice about dealing with cold weather.

Weather Information

• BBC Weather - East Midlands
• The Met Office

Travel Information

Road

• Visit the BBC Website to find out the latest travel information
• Gritting Information

Rail

The rail network suffered severe disruption as a result of snow and severe weather. The Met Office's winter forceast says we could be in for a very long cold spell, so expect delayed services up and down the country.

You are advised to check how services are operating before travelling.

Follow the link to the National Rail Service for the latest information.

 Air

If you are flying, check directly with your airline to see if your flight has been affected by local weather or other problems, and allow extra travel time to get to the airport.

Follow the link to Direct Gov - airports page to check that flights are taking off as normal .