New guidance released to help allay fears about clearing snow and ice from pavements and public spaces has been welcomed by Birmingham City Council.
The guidance comes as the start of this year’s cold weather arrives in Birmingham and will bring back memories of the snowy conditions at the start of the year.
The new guidance, released by the Government, states some people cleared snow from the pavements and public spaces around their homes, however many members of the public were reluctant to do so because of fears of being sued.
The guidance goes on to reiterate there is no law stopping anyone from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside their property, pathways to their property or public spaces.
If an accident did happen, it’s highly unlikely anyone would be sued as long as they:
• are careful
• use common sense to make sure that you don’t make the pavement or pathway clearly more dangerous than before
People using areas affected by snow and ice also have responsibility to be careful themselves.
Cllr Paul Tilsley, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, who has responsibility for resilience issues, said: “The role that communities can play during any emergency, but in particular when dealing with severe weather conditions such as snowfall is particularly important.
“This new guidance reassures residents in Birmingham they don’t face legal claims by helping others.”
Tips and advice on clearing snow and ice:
• start early – it’s much easier to clear fresh, loose snow compared to compacted ice that has been compressed by people walking on it
• don’t use hot water – this will melt the snow, but may replace it with black ice, increasing the risk of injury
• be a good neighbour – some people may be unable to clear snow and ice on paths from their property
• if shovelling snow, think where you are going to put it so that it doesn’t block people’s paths or drainage channels
• make a pathway down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on
• spreading some salt on the area you have cleared will help stop ice forming – table salt or dishwasher salt will work, but avoid spreading on plants or grass as they may be damaged by it
• pay particular care and attention to steps and steep gradients
• use the sun to your advantage – removing the top layer of snow will allow the sun to melt any ice beneath; however you will need to cover any ice with salt to stop it refreezing overnight
• if there’s no salt available, sand or ash are good alternatives
For general information on how to prepare for emergency situations, visit www.birminghamprepared.gov.uk
ENDS
For further information contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
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