Devon's Snow Wardens are ready to spring into action this weekend, as a yellow warning of snow and ice takes effect this evening (Friday, January 22). The snow is expected to arrive early on Sunday morning.

They will also be marking the 10th anniversary of the volunteer scheme, which was started by the county council in 2011 and now covers 325 towns and parishes.

In the event of a prolonged cold spell, the volunteers grit their priority roads and clear snow as part of their community's self-help plans.

Councillor Stuart Hughes is the county council's Cabinet Member for Highway Management – and is also the Snow Warden for Sidmouth and Sidford.

He said: "The Snow Warden scheme has been a great success over the past ten years, and lots of other counties across the country have sought our advice when establishing their own schemes.

"Towns and parishes have really taken ownership of this scheme and while they may not have been called into action every winter, it's helped communities to be better prepared, better equipped and more resilient against severe weather.

"With 8,000 miles of roads in the county, it is impossible for Devon County Council to treat our entire network of roads and footpaths, so the Snow Warden scheme has always been an additional resource on top of the winter service we provide.

"It's enabled us to support town and parish councils to provide self-help in their local communities and has basically extended our secondary salting network – making it easier for local people to reach their nearest main roads which are gritted by the county council."

The Snow Wardens are a key contact between their local community and the county council, which gives them free training on clearing snow and spreading salt effectively. The authority also covers third party public liability for the treatment undertaken as part of the snow warden scheme.

Devon County Council has 37 frontline gritters available to treat 2,000 miles of primary and secondary salting routes, covering around a quarter of the county's road network. Last winter, around 9,500 tonnes of salt were used on Devon's roads – treating around 75,000 miles of the county. That's below the average winter figure of around 13,000 tonnes of salt.

To find out more about the Snow Warden scheme go to Devon County Council Snow Wardens, or contact Parish Council representatives who can liaise with their local Neighbourhood Highway Officer.

Advice from Devon County Council when travelling on the county's roads is:

• Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;
• Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;
• Allow additional time for your journey and reduce your speed;
• Drive with care and according to the conditions.

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