Get Ready for Winter
With the countdown to Christmas well underway and the temperature starting to drop, it’s clear that winter is just around the corner.
With this in mind, Swindon Borough Council has launched its ‘Get Ready for Winter’ webpage, a collection of helpful advice and tips on how to stay safe and well over winter, including driving in adverse weather, how to look after pets, and what to do in a storm.
The Council, along with the NHS, are also encouraging individuals to look after their health by getting the flu vaccination. Many people, such as pregnant women or those with a longterm illness, are eligible for a free flu vaccine or it may be offered to some through the workplace. If not, you can ask for it at your GP surgery.
The winter webpage also offers advice on how communities can help to support older or vulnerable individuals through the colder months, as this can often be a difficult time for them.
Small gestures such as offering to help with their food shopping or pick up their prescriptions can greatly help to reduce feelings of loneliness, and provide solutions to some of the practical problems which winter can bring. The colder months do not only affect our health, but also have a big impact on our roads.
The Council’s gritting teams have already been hard at work to make sure that Swindon’s key roads stay free of ice this winter and the team of 16 drivers are on standby 24 hours a day until April, unless the weather determines that longer monitoring is needed, to keep routes clear. Motorists should, however, take extra care while driving over winter as roads could still be icy and dangerous. It is also recommended that items such as a torch and spare warm clothes, are kept in car boots in case of an emergency. More information and advice can be found on the Council’s webpage.
Leader of the Council, Cllr David Renard, said: “This webpage is a great source of information as to how to best prepare for winter. Small preparations now can make a huge difference later down the line, and with experts predicting the coldest winter in five years, it’s even more important to get ready for what the winter months can bring.”
Visit www.swindon.gov.uk/winter for further advice on how to prepare for winter and stay safe and well through the colder months.
Regular updates, including when roads will be gritted, will be posted on the Council’s Twitter account @SwindonNews.