Clearing the pavements

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 Jan 2010, 21:49

This is from a general email from Maureen Child today - I hope there's no objection to it being shown on here too. I can't figure out how to post the poster she refers too, I'm afraid!

Dear All

This forwarded attachment is intended mostly for Portobello constituents, although everyone is welcome to join in, or take up the idea for your own neighbourhood.

The *star* local response to my last email is from a Bath Street resident, Paul, who went out and cleared the snow from the pavements one side of his street yesterday and is now proposing to organise an 'ice breaking' session over a wider area in Portobello on Saturday morning.

Paul did the attached poster today and is putting it around the Portobello area this afternoon.

I've been doing all I can to support Paul's efforts today and make sure it can happen, and safely. I checked with the Council today, and we are hoping they will be able to supply grit, at least. We are proposing to take a bit of sand off the beach otherwise, which worked on Bath Street, so should work elsewhere.

We are looking for volunteers for a 1-2 hours starting 9.30am, meeting at the foot of Bath Street, as the poster says. You DO have to be able-bodied and come well kitted-out with spades or snow shovels gloves, boots etc. And it will be at your own risk. It is an urban myth that you would be held liable if anyone slipped on the cleared parts of the street, but we are trying our level best to prevent any more of that happening on these streets - at least, that's the intention.

On Saturday morning, we are proposing to do (for a start!)

Kings Road
Bridge Street Area
Bath Street
Regent Street
Marlborough Street
Bellfield Street
Pittville Street
John Street
James Street

We may find we have to spread the grit first then getting down to shifting it later, once it's loosened up. The forecast for Friday night is pretty low temperatures. The Bath Street pavement is still loosened up, I'm told, so it does work.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 08 Jan 2010, 00:30

If someone grits a route from my door to the beach they can have a freshly-baked chocolate cake. Ok, it was worth a try...

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 Jan 2010, 11:33

I noticed council workmen clearing part of the High Street yesterday.

If it had been any other time I would have roused the family to help with the shovelling but we are all booked for shifting furniture and clearing my dad's flat this weekend

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 08 Jan 2010, 13:11

Hello Everyone and thanks to Suzanne for pointing me in this direction.

If enough of us get out there and we've enough shovels and buckets and brooms we can really make a difference to the safety of our pavements.

From the map I count 14 roads that run up from the Prom. Bath street and Kings Road are the longest at .2 of a mile. If 1 man cleared 1 side of Bath street in 2 hours we can assume that 4 people would clear both sides in 1 hour. That's a little generous on the time and my maths is not great but it's a starting point approximate. Considering that most of the rest of the streets are much shorter I think that 50 volunteers could clear all the streets perpendicular to the high street and most that run parallel too in a couple of hours. It's an ambitious and optimistic goal but it's one worth aiming for.

Hope to meet you all down on the beach in the morning.

paul.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 08 Jan 2010, 17:00

SoupDragon wrote:I noticed council workmen clearing part of the High Street yesterday.

They've almost reached Bellfield Street and seem to be doing a cracking job!

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 08 Jan 2010, 17:02

elkanary wrote:Hope to meet you all down on the beach in the morning.

I went to my dad's in East Linton this afternoon and returned with two spare spades so Mr P and I intend to be there!

[And what a lovely bus-trip - East Lothian is a picture-book perfect snowscape!]

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 08 Jan 2010, 17:48

You'll all be needing cake anyway, so someone who knows my flat can pick them up if you like

Silver Surfer · Post by **Silver Surfer** » 09 Jan 2010, 12:36

Many thanks to all who helped clear the pavements in our area. Knew we were right to move here!

Well done we are really grateful!

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 09 Jan 2010, 14:06

Thank you bucketeers! It was fab to be able to trundle oot this morning

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jan 2010, 15:23

Congratulations to everyone who helped out and in particular to Paul for a brilliant initiative. Sorry I wasn't able to be there on this occasion. After my earlier comments about the state of the pavements, I'm happy to concede that some of the traders have indeed being doing their bit - Findlay's for one. And the Council have, if belatedly and no doubt following a large number of complaints, made their contribution as well. But the people who deserve the most credit are without doubt the local residents who turned out this morning. Bravo!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jan 2010, 15:38

A bit late, but here's the poster for posterity:

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 09 Jan 2010, 15:42

And the rest of Maureen's message for those who didn't receive it:

Since I sent out the last update about the severe weather conditions, I have had a good range of responses, from local residents - not all positive, as you might expect. I also got a response from the Council.

All the grit bins in the area should have been replenished by now, by the local street cleaning team, over the last two days. Do let me know if any have been missed. Also, all sheltered housing areas and schools were being prioritised for gritting. There is an audit going on of neighbourhoods that need more grit bins put in so everybody gets access to what they need for this kind of DIY job. The refuse collectors are working their way through a lengthening list of areas they have to get access to and the local gritting teams are helping them do so.

It's all painfully slow, and doesn't quite meet the need to get into those so-called 'low priority' residential areas where we walk out of the front door on to a bumpy ice rink or where people are trapped indoors, unable to take that risk of a fall.

I know - it's not nearly good enough!

Regards

Maureen

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 09 Jan 2010, 17:39

Yes, well done everybody who managed. I'm sorry I couldn't do it today. Things do seem to be moving at last. For the first time in weeks the bus stop outside our door doesn't resemble a mirror and there are clear bits on the pavement.

Lizzie · Post by **Lizzie** » 10 Jan 2010, 18:36

A great big thanks from all in Bridge Street area and surrounding streets to all volunteers who help clear the ice from the pavements and spread the grit along our end of the promenade, your efforts have made a big difference and is very much appreciated

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 10 Jan 2010, 21:43

After the big freeze, are we now getting the big thaw? The temperature in Portobello has been +6 degrees most of the day and the snow and ice is melting fast. Hopefully this means we will get our bins emptied this week.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello