Facebook chat with public to help people get Ready for Winter

23rd October 2012

Issued by the Highlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group.

Members of the Highlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group (HISCG) are directly involving the public for the first time in their preparations for winter.

The group is holding an online Facebook chat tomorrow with the public to co-incide with the launch of this year's Scottish Government and British Red Cross led Ready For Winter campaign.

Members, which include Northern Constabulary, Highland Council, SEPA and Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, want feedback via Facebook from communities in the Highlands and Islands about how best to communicate with them during the major incidents or severe weather.

The Ready for Winter? campaign aims to encourage everyone in Scotland to think about about how they could be affected by severe weather,and to put in place simple plans and take some action to ensure Scotland as a whole is better prepared.

The Scottish Government, the British Red Cross and COSLA launched the campaign today (22 October 2012) and HISCG will stage its online Facebook chat with the public on the handiprepared Facebook page tomorrow. The campaign can also be followed on Twitter hashtag #RfW2102.

Members of the public who wish to join in can visit Handiprepared and "Like" the page to join the conversation.

Emergency planning experts from Northern Constabulary, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service and SEPA will be on hand at various times between 10am and 1700 on 23 October 2012 to answer questions from the public and highlight the importance of preparing for winter.

The Highlands and Islands could well face widespread icy conditions, snow, heavy rain, high winds or flooding during the winter months and communication with communities is key.

Regular roads reports will continue to be issued by Police and the public are advised to listen to local radio or check with Traffic Scotland for the latest updates on road conditions. The SEPA website also has important information about flooding.

Inspector Alistair Garrow from Northern Constabulary's Emergency Planning department said: "We publish regular updates on our website www.northern.police.uk and provide regular road reports to local radio stations and Traffic Scotland with the latest information on roads.

"Drivers should take heed of weather forecasts and road conditions, plan their routes accordingly and allow plenty of time for their journey. Be prepared for the worst by taking blankets, extra clothing, a shovel, food and drinks, and making sure your mobile phone is fully charged and you have useful contact numbers.

"If there is limited mobile coverage or your battery is low and you need help, a text has more chance of getting through."

The Highland Council is responsible for 4,200 miles (6,700km) of roads. The Council's winter roads maintenance budget for 2012/13 is £4.7 million.

What does the Council use on Highland roads?

* The Highland Council purchases 6mm pure rock salt from a quarry in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. This rock salt is not pre-wetted. It complies with the recommended British Standard for moisture content.
* On average 60,000 tonnes of salt per year are used on roads by The Highland Council (this excludes years with extreme highs/lows in salt usage).
* Annual road salt tonnage used over the last 7 years was:

- 2004/05 57,233 tonnes
- 2005/06 57,612 tonnes
- 2006/07 29,406 tonnes (low due to a mild winter)
- 2007/08 57,253 tonnes
- 2008/09 79,575 tonnes
- 2009/10 77,674 tonnes (longer cold spells than 08/09, salt was restricted by rationing due to a national shortage)
- 2010/11 69,589 tonnes (salt restricted due to rationing and national shortage)
- 2011/12 48,727 tonnes

* The Council imports salt by ship from Northern Ireland to 13 harbours throughout the area at: Lochaline, Corpach, Kyle of Lochalsh, Broadford, Portree, Dunvegan, Ullapool, Lochinver, Kinlochbervie, Scrabster, Wick, Invergordon and Inverness; and distributes this salt through 41 depots at Grantown, Nairn Park Quarry, Kingussie - TRO, Janetstown, Wick, Melness (Achuvoldrach) Tongue, Strathy, Longman, Cannich, Drumnadrochit, Gorthleck, Fort William Carr's Corner, Arisaig - TRO, Ballachulish - TRO, Invergarry, Strontian, Broadford, Sconser HC, Fairybridge Dunvegan, Conchra - TRO, Alness, Tain, Ardgay Ardchronie, Helmsdale, Durness, Dornoch, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Brora, Rogart, Lairg, Greenhill, Gairloch, Dundonnell, Lochcarron, Achiltibuie, Applecross, Ullapool, Torridon, Whinhill, Silverbridge. n.b. TRO = shared salt dump with Trunk Road Operator.

Highland winter maintenance fleet:

* The Council has a fleet of 116 road gritters; and 48 pavement gritters (these include Mercedes 4x4; Mercedes 6x6; Mercedes or DAF 6x2). The pavement gritters have mini-ploughs on the front of the vehicles and salt gritters on the rear of the vehicle.