12.12.22 – Gritters on the Move, Samaritans Campaign, Safer Street Fund
Written by Hitmix Local News on 11 December 2022
Staffordshire’s army of gritters have been out in force across the county as freezing temperatures and heavy frosts continue to hit the region.
With a yellow weather warning for ice across much of the country and temperatures still expected to remain low into this week, drivers are being reminded to take particular care.
David Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “
“With freezing temperatures expected to continue and the risk of snow showers, our crews remain well prepared and ready for further action. With our fleet of more than 40 gritters and plenty of grit stockpiled, we are able to keep the county moving. We’ll continue to monitor conditions and grit as required. As always, I would ask that drivers take extra care when on the roads, slow down and allow more time for their journeys. And, if we do see snow, it’s even more important that people drive to the conditions.”
People can find out more about where the teams grit and how to prepare for winter on the Staffordshire County Council Website www.staffordshire.gov.uk/winter
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People in Staffordshire are being reminded that they’re not alone during their darkest hours this Christmas and New Year as part of a new campaign.
Staffordshire County Council has partnered with Staffordshire Samaritans to illuminate windows and buildings green across the county on Wednesday 21st December, the longest night of the year.
The campaign aims to remind residents and anyone in need that the Samaritans will be there for them, with its support line open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
People are encouraged to join the event by shining a green light in their window and displaying a poster on 21st December, the longest night.
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/longestnight.
Anyone who is feeling lonely or facing difficulties can contact Samaritans for free any time from any phone on 116 123, even from a mobile without credit and the number won’t show up on their phone bill.
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Over £140k (£148,500k) is to be invested in tackling anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls in Newcastle-under-Lyme as part of the latest round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, following a successful bid by the Staffordshire Commissioner’s Office (SCO).
Round four of the Safer Streets Fund saw £750,000 allocated to areas in Staffordshire, including Newcastle-under-Lyme, Burton, Stafford and areas of Stoke-on-Trent.
This funding is in addition to over £2 million already secured by the Staffordshire Commissioners Office through Safer Streets in rounds one, two and three.
The latest Safer Streets initiative forms part of Staffordshire’s preventative approach to reducing ASB and violence more broadly. In Newcastle-under-Lyme the funding will be used to provide a range of partnership interventions including:
- Additional lighting, CCTV and alley gating
- environmental measures such as community clean-ups and removing graffiti in public spaces
- Street pastor schemes to be extended in night-time economies and vulnerable locations, increasing the number of trained, capable guardians able to support and signpost those vulnerable to safe places and support.
- Community awareness campaigns to address ASB, supported by a community engagement project to empower communities to identify local concerns, design and oversee projects to resolve them, with the aid of a small grant
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “The Council welcomes this additional funding via Safer Streets 4. We always work pro-actively and creatively with multi-agency partners to solve community safety issues in Newcastle-under-Lyme – including all types of violence against women and girls – but this extra funding will allow us to do even more good work focused on making sure that women and girls in particular have a safe time while enjoying themselves.
Find out more about the latest round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund at Safer Streets Fund continues to make streets safer – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
