Winter Service

Ribble Valley residents are advised to prepare for the possibility of freezing weather this winter.

Over the winter months, the Ribble Valley Borough Council and Lancashire County Council web sites will feature a wealth of advice and information on everything from equipping your car and safely clearing snow from paths to checking on school closures.

Leaflets containing all the top tips will also be available at hundreds of locations, including garages, doctors' surgeries, high-street shops and council receptions across the county.

Responsibility for highways lies with Lancashire County Council, which has stocked up on over 30,000 tonnes of salt to treat the roads.

Tim Ashton, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We are confident we have done all we can to keep the county moving this winter, but we are asking everybody to do their bit, too.

"We have to focus our resources on treating the main routes and we are as ready as we can be to keep gritting for longer in the event of prolonged severe weather.

"But we're also asking everyone to think ahead about what they can do to keep themselves and their communities safe and sound."

Lancashire County Council's winter web site www.lancashire.gov.uk/winter will feature instant updates when gritters are activated and up-to-date information on planning journeys.