Seems like we have been relatively lucky with December’s snowfall. We haven’t had the black ice and clogged roads of some years here in Sunderland.
But I am still surprised at the amount of ice and slush left on the pavements. Even local shopping centres such as Villette Road are treacherous underfoot as the snow melts and is left as ice for unsuspecting pedestrians.
I was reminiscing with a friend about life in Berlin. He is from a military family and went to the British Military Schools in the city – only twice was the school closed because of bad weather – when the temperature hit the legal limit of -15c!
I remembered 2005/06, the first winter for several years the lakes had frozen solid enough for Berliners to take their Sunday afternoon strolls on the ice. A few months later was the World Cup, and the city was bathed in a heatwave. Several people died as a result of the hot weather, but the city copes with the extremes of temperature far better than most of Britain.
Back to Sunderland. If there is a grit bin near you please use it. Gritting your footpath and outside your home will help get rid of ice and keep everyone safe.
Don’t forget that your elderly or inform neighbours may not be able to do their own patch, so please ask them if they want help.
Avenue Terrace and Tunstall Vale are so steep they can be dangerous to walk down sometimes. The Ashbrooke Residents’ Association pushed the Council Highways department for a grit bin, and now one is installed every year at the top of Avenue Terrace.
Many residents fill up and small bucket at night to grit the area in the mornings and help keep the place safe for everyone.
To check on how the council see your street click this link to page 386 of SR2Blog.com . And if you think your street needs extra attention in the winter contact your local councillors. You can find your City Councillors contact details by clicking and entering your postcode, ward, or by searching the list of names.
