It’s no problem for villages thanks to the true grit of volunteers
Community gritting team at Newton In The Isle. Caption:- Newton-in-the-Isle Community Gritting Volunteers L to R:- Dave Gibbs, Ian Cornelius, Rod Hepworth, Melanie Holloway, James Buddle, Nigel Wakefield and Roger Moore, Parish Emergency Plan Coordinator. Picture: CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - Credit: Archant
Snowy pathways were cleared in an East Cambridgeshire village thanks to members of the Newton-in-the-Isle community gritting team.
Community gritting team at Newton In The Isle. Caption:- Newton-in-the-Isle Community Gritting Volunteers L to R:- Dave Gibbs, Ian Cornelius, Rod Hepworth, Melanie Holloway, James Buddle, Nigel Wakefield and Roger Moore, Parish Emergency Plan Coordinator. Picture: CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL - Credit: Archant
The volunteers sprang into action when snow covered their village thanks to equipment provided by Cambridgeshire County Council.
They cleared pavements and footpaths around the village, making it safer for people to get out and about.
Councillor Dave Gibbs, chairman of the parish council, said: “We have many elderly people living in the village and icy pavements are a serious hazard to them and to the wider community.
“As part of our emergency plan, we identified a need to deal with snow and ice.
“Working with our colleagues in the county council’s highways division, we were able to find a solution at no cost to the parish council, thanks to our team of willing volunteers.”
Councillor Mathew Shuter, chair of the county council’s highways and community infrastructure committee, said: “We really appreciate the volunteers in Newton-in-the-Isle offering their time to help the community by gritting local footways.
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“The county council’s community gritting scheme allows people to step in during extended periods of freezing weather to clear routes in their area that are not part of the county gritting program.”
A training pack has more information.
