The forecasts are quite certain that snow is coming, and here are some key updates which might be useful if you have to travel.
Schools and Colleges:
This link here http://www.hants.gov.uk/education/schoolclosures/#east_hants will take you to the list of schools, colleges and children’s centres that are closed on Hampshire. It is constantly being updated, and at this time Alton College is only opening for exams (18/01/13), and Hollywater School has been closed entirely (18/01/13). These are both a little way from Downs Ward, but more announcements are expected and will probably affect local schools.
Road gritting:
The gritters from HCC are out and working, usually double shifts. In Downs ward, the routes are as follows:
Priority One: London Road, Downwood way, Hawthorne Road (feeder part), Tarn Rise, Southdown Road, White Dirt Lane, Drift Road.
Priority Two: South Road (West), North Road, Francis Road.
The main routes to Horndean, Catherington, Clanfield, Petersfield, Motorway links etc are all gritted as priority one routes.
Click on this link to see the gritting routes across Hampshire: http://maps.hants.gov.uk/saltroutesmap/ (excerpt below)
For more information on which roads are treated with salt, and when, please click on this link here: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/roads/winter-maintenance/road-salting.htm
Salt Bins:
In the last few weeks I have been contacted by two residents asking for assistance with Grit Bins. These are provided by Hampshire County Council, and we were able to get one installed in Juniper Close. This arrived last week just before the weather! For more information on grit bins including how to ask for one (please also let me know, I can try to support it) or reporting empty bins click on this link here: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/roads/winter-maintenance/salt-bins.htm
