Jane Pickard and Mike Smith on Lakeview Road at top of Knights Hill on Saturday 19/12/09
Its colder on the top of the hills around West Norwood! After Tuesday’s ( 15 Dec) snow fall most of the snow had melted in the centre of West Norwood by Saturday but once you get higher than 50 metres above sea level the snow and ice stayed much longer on the roads and pavements.
Martin Sachs , who heads Lambeth’s Highways team, told residents at the Norwood Forum last week that in wintry weather his priority is to grit the busiest roads and those on hills twice a day , using special gritter vehicles – apart from red routes which are looked after by t he London Mayor’s Transport for London. Traffic speeds up the melting process on roads but gritting pavements is a slower manual process done by staff who normally sweep the streets. Busy pavements outside shopping centres, schools and hospitals have priority. Salt bins are left unlocked for residents to use.
Labour action team members Jane Pickard and Mike Smith have asked for Norwood’s side streets to be gritted too. “Some streets are like an ice rink” said Mike Smith on Saturday “and many older people are trapped in their homes until the pavements are made safe to walk on.”
More snow fell on Monday afternoon (21 Dec) causing chaos throughout London as traffic struggled with the icy roads. The resulting gridlock prevented gritters getting on the road quickly. Gritting will continue throughout the night.
Call Lambeth on 020 7926 9000 to report problem streets and pavements. For red routes call Transport for London 0845 305 1234 (24 hours a day)
For more details of Lambeth’s plans for winter weather see
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Lambeth failed miserably. Living on Woodvale Walk Estate the slope (road & pavement) onto Tivoli Road went untreated. We were told the estate clearners would clear paths – they did this by clearing a 6″wide path and only did this once during the snow – although I observed one of them clearing snow from a low wall!! Once again those living on the edge of the borough appear to have been neglected in favour of more high profile ‘flat’ areas nearer the town hall.
During the exceptional winter weather Lambeth did well keeping the main roads open. Unfortunately many salt bins were stolen so gritting pavements took longer. The salt bins are stored in a depot until they are needed again.
Lambeth’s housing estates are now managed by Lambeth Living . Your Labour action team are taking up your comments with Lambeth Living. Hopefully the next time there is heavy snow the estates will be gritted.