Stirling Council has outlined its 2024/25 Winter Service Plan. With it, they have called for Community Winter Volunteers to help clear ice and snow from certain areas.
Those who volunteer will be given full training and a range of equipment to carry out their duties. The equipment includes high-vis waistcoats, hats, gloves, snow shovels, and grit spreaders. Communities throughout the Stirling area are all invited to take part in this volunteering scheme.
Areas included in the Council’s Winter Service Plan will not be cleared by volunteers. These areas include roads and paths to schools, hospitals, train stations, shops, and health clinics. Rather, volunteers would be clearing public paths along their streets and housing estates.
Quote from Council
Cllr Jen Preston, convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, said: “The current financial climate for local authorities, including Stirling Council, is extremely challenging, but a request for community volunteers is not a call to replace a Council service.
“Rather, this is about empowering resilient communities to deal with winter weather conditions in areas the Council do not or cannot reach when undertaking our statutory obligations during periods of exceptional weather.
“We value the many ways in which people reach out to help others in their community, not just during winter – and volunteers tell us they also feel a sense of wellbeing at helping promote an even greater spirit in the areas in which they live and work.
“Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to grit every road, footpath or footway when snow or ice occurs. We’ve got to focus our gritting on priority routes which pose the greatest risk to safety if they are not treated.”
The Council’s Plan was approved by The Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee. It prioritises clearing roads and pathways that see the most footfall and vehicle use. The 2024/25 Plan has a new, risk-based approach as well as a review of grit bin locations to make sure that they are available where most needed.
Residents can find out more information here or by emailing wintervolunteer@stirling.gov.uk
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Council
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