Residents in Tendring are being reminded to take extra precautions as snow continues to fall and drift across the district.
Winds have caused significant snow drifts in some areas, including on some major routes, which have been compounded by further snowfall.
The Met Office this morning reinstated its yellow warning for snow and ice for today and a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for Friday.
Residents are being urged to continue monitoring the weather forecast as it may change over the next few days.
Tendring District Council (TDC) is also reminding people to check on vulnerable people in their communities.
• MORE: Further snow showers to come with south and west Suffolk to take the bruntLynda McWilliams, cabinet member for health and education including emergency planning at TDC, said: “I know many TDC staff have been out doing their bit and working hard to keep services running, and there have been many lovely reports on social media of people getting out in their communities to help stranded drivers.
“While other parts of the UK have been issued with the highest Met Office red warning for snow – and our thoughts are with those bracing themselves – we in Tendring must not take our eye off the ball and continue to monitor the situation carefully.
“Once again I urge people to stay inside unless necessary, to check on the vulnerable within their communities, and to keep an eye on the forecast. Most importantly, do not underestimate the power of the weather.”
TDC closed its offices at 11am today to allow those staff who are not already home working to make the journey home before conditions potentially worsen.
Essential services will continue, and many TDC staff are working remotely.
Public toilets have been closed as some are beginning to freeze up, and waste collections are suspended at this time.
The authority has now decided to suspend waste collections tomorrow (Friday) in light of the continuing icy conditions and the yellow alert for snow and ice from the Met Office for Friday.
The following plan has been drawn up by TDC for next week, assuming that conditions are appropriate on Monday for collections to continue, which will enable contractors Veolia to catch up on rounds missed due to the snow.
- Monday’s collection will be as normal
- Tuesday-Friday collection rounds will be black bags and food waste ONLY (i.e. no recycling) – this will allow the recycling vehicles to collect residual waste as there could be double the usual amount of waste as compared to normal
- Friday collection round homes are asked to put out their normal recycling for that week, out for collection on SATURDAY MARCH 10
- Full collections will resume as normal from Monday, March 12, on the recycling week as advertised.
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