Snow angels needed to launch fight against Jack Frost in Kirkintilloch

People are being invited to become ‘snow wardens’ to help in their communities during severe winter weather.

East Dunbartonshire Council is developing a Snow Wardens community self help initiative.

The scheme would see volunteers trained to take responsibility for clearing snow and gritting pavements in their neighbourhoods.

The area has been hit with heavy snow falls in recent winters.

The council’s focus is on the major routes, which sometimes means smaller communities don’t receive as much help as they would like.

Community councils or other established community groups can join the Snow Warden scheme.

Derek Cunningham, the council’s director of development and infrastructure, said: “Learning from the experience of other councils we are hoping to introduce a Snow Wardens community self help initiative in East Dunbartonshire.

“East Dunbartonshire has one of the most extensive winter programmes in Scotland, with our crews gritting and clearing 68 per cent of the roads network.

“We target our resources on a priority basis, so smaller roads and paths may not be treated as quickly as residents would like in periods of severe or extended adverse conditions.”

Councillors approved the scheme at a development and infrastructure meeting. It could start this winter if there’s enough interest.

Mr Cunningham added: “The idea is for residents to volunteer to work with the council to help us get people and traffic moving as quickly as possible at a local level, on roads and paths, when we need support.

“With a team of local people volunteering and working with us we can do more and act faster. It is about the community coming together to help each other.

“We will now develop a Snow Wardens community self help initiative and open our idea up to local people to see if it something that could work here.”

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