As part of the plan, there will be an expansion of the Winter Community Volunteer Scheme for 2023-24 after a pilot in Bridge of Allan and Killin last year.
The Winter Service Plan outlines the actions the Council will carry out to deal with adverse weather conditions, including ice and snow, which can affect roads and footpaths.
The volunteer scheme is open to groups or members of the local community who wish to offer their spare time to clear snow or spread salt along public footways and foothpaths in their streets and housing estates. Volunteers will not be asked clear footways and footpaths included within the Council’s Winter Service Plan.
Support
Training and a full range of equipment, including high-vis waistcoats, gloves, hats, snow shovels and grit spreaders will be provided.
Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, Cllr Jen Preston, said: “We value and appreciate the many ways in which people are willing to reach out and support their local communities at all times of the year.
“As a Council, we have to prioritise where we concentrate our efforts during winter and it would be impossible for us to grit every footpath and footway when snow or ice occurs. In winter, we focus on gritting priority routes which pose the greatest risk to safety if not treated.
“People in Bridge of Allan and Killin welcomed the opportunity to give back to the neighbourhoods in which they live and work. Volunteers felt a sense of wellbeing and teamwork, while fostering even greater community spirit.
“This is not about replacing a Council service. It is about empowering and enabling communities to deal with winter weather conditions in areas the Council do not or cannot reach when undertaking our statutory operations during periods of exceptional weather events.”
Rural
The Winter Community Volunteer Scheme is open to community groups and individuals and further details are also available by contacting wintervolunteer@stirling.gov.uk.
The Winter Service Plan has also taken into account feedback received during winter 2022/23 and will treat the following rural roads during daylight hours when Priority 1 routes are treated to make sure that communities aren’t cut off:
- B829 from Kinlochard to end at Inversnaid
- C102 from South Loch Tay Road
- C6 from Balmaha to end at Rowardennan
The full Winter Service Plan for 2023/24 includes full details of Priority categories for the roads, footways and footpaths in the Council area.