Emergency planning shake-up ordered

by David Skentelbery
TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have ordered a shake-up of the borough council’s emergency planning in the wake of the severe weather which virtually brought the town to a standstill for several days in January.
Members of the winter review executive task group, which was set up last month, has instructed officers to prepare a feasibility study and cost implications for a wide range of proposals designed to deal with similar extreme weather conditions in the future.
The aim is to provide for continuity of council services to residents.
Among ideas to be discussed are
1. Providing temporary local accommodation for senior council officers who live outside the borough.
2. Identifying a “director of operations” with authority to make major decisions and co-ordinate all departmental actions.
3. Ensuring that all council services consider severe weather impacts and recovery objectives as part of business continuity planning.
The task group will meet again on June 15 to consider officers’ detailed proposals and the group will provide a full and final report to the executive board on July 19.
Members of the group are councillors Alan Litton (chairman), Paul Kennedy, Bill Brinksman, Mike Biggin and Linda Dirir.
They have carried out a review of the impact of the severe weather in December and January, the council’s response to it and ways in which an improved response could be achieved in the future.
The group recognised the hard work that went into maintaining and restoring services but noted the wider public concern at delays in returning some services to normal.
The majority of complaints from both residents and businesses related to gritting of the roads and interruptions to refuse collection.
The main concern around gritting was the perception that roads were not gritted. But in fact, while during an average season around 1500 tonnes of salt are used on Warrington’s roads, with an average of 45 grit runs, during the severe weather a total of 1900 tonnes of salt was used, with 64 grits runs.
The snow and freezing conditions overnight on Monday January 4-Tuesday Janury 5 resulted in no waste collections on Tuesday and limited collections until Tuesday January 19.
From Wednesday January 6 members of staff from waste and street services were deployed to gritting and snow clearing at areas of heavy footfall, vulnerable residents, Warrington Hospital and approaches to schools.
From Tuesday January 12 collection points were introduced. Side waste was collected from assisted resident’s schemes and caged vehicles collected side waste.
From Tuesday January 19 waste and side waste collections resumed. All collections of waste and side waste were cleared throughout the borough by Saturday January 13.
Another major concern was potholes, and it was clear the weather had had an effect on the long term condition of road which was currently being assessed.
Schools were another major concern On Tuesday, January 5 most were inadequately staffed as teachers struggled to get to school. Only four schools managed to open.
The following day a decision was made to close all schools on health and safety grounds. On the Thursday 14 schools were able to open and on the Friday the number rose to 19. But some could not re-open because of heating problems and burst pipes. By Tuesday, January 12 only one school remained closed.
Warrington Borough Transport was able to maintain a bus service throughout the crisis period.
The council is to review its contingency plans for salting road, salt storage and supply, including provision of grit supplies at schools.
A list of farmers and others with JCBs who could clear snow at short notice may also be drawn up.
Pictured: the A56 near Lymm Dam…impassable at the worst of the weather