Snow angels to keep weather eye on roads

SADDLEWORTH PARISH COUNCIL: A COMMUNITY-wide effort to rid Saddleworth of its snow stresses could be in place as early as this winter.

Farmers could be asked to help plough and grit hard-to-reach roads while a team of locals could be assembled should heavy snow fall.

It’s part of a plan being spearheaded by parish councillor Robert Knotts, who gained the backing of the parish council last night in moving the scheme forward.

The idea is to consult with council leader Jim McMahon and explore funding revenues in the aim of having plans set firmly in place by the middle of November.

Councillor Knotts said: “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, there’s a lot of information out there and it’s a case of picking the best ideas.

“It’s no use waiting to do this until winter, 2012, we’ve already had two or three very bad winters — can we afford to have another one? Time is of the essence.”

He said that emergency services, gritters and public transport were being cut off because of the heavy snowfall and that lessons could be learned from how other authorities have dealt with the issue.

One of the community self-help projects could incorporate a scheme which originated in Canada, in which a group of locals known as “snow angels” carried out snow-clearing duties or simply reported conditions and helped co-ordinate gritting.

It was also agreed that the most realistic option would be to fund farmers and for plant-equipment owners to clear agreed roads. Councillor Knotts argued that such a scheme would save the council money while addressing the weather problems that have plagued the area in recent years.

Councillor John Hudson said it was a “wonderful idea”, but that a prediction of £10,000 in funding could be a little too modest.

It was suggested the recently-announced fund for community projects, applied for through the district partnerships, could be explored as a funding stream.

It was agreed that a meeting would be scheduled as soon as possible.

It’s hoped councillors, the head of highways and council leader McMahon will all attend in the aim of achieving swift action.