Cold weather and service update - Friday 19 January

Service update for Friday January 19 PM

Gritting will be resuming at from 7.30pm today (Friday) but with temperatures starting to rise it is hoped conditions will be improving.

However, following missed bin collections due to the weather this week a number of rounds remain to be completed.

Biffa crews will be out Saturday and Sunday, and residents with bins to be collected are advised to either leave the bins out or take in and put back out at 7am each day and Biffa will get to them as soon as possible.

There have been a number of locations which have been icy and inaccessible, with the ice staying on the pavements until today (Fri), meaning that crews have gone back two or three times to these locations until they can access them.

If your bin has not yet been collected please keep putting it out each day until crews get to you - and thank you for your patience.

Friday January 19 AM UPDATE

Biffa crews are continuing to catch-up on missed collections from earlier this week.

Those roads which missed collections on Tuesday and continue to be icy and inaccessible will be revisited this afternoon by Biffa.

Bin collections are likely to continue into the weekend with crews out tomorrow (Saturday) and possibly Sunday and Monday  there will be further updates on those arrangements.

Please keep putting your bin out on your usual collection date. If it’s not collected then put it out each day until crews get to you - and again, thank you for your patience.

Thursday January 18 PM UPDATE

Biffa crews have been working to catch-up on missed collections, so most residents who usually have a Thursday collection will not have had one today.

Tomorrow (Friday), crews will prioritise collections missed, including those from Wednesday, plus a small number of roads left from Tuesday’s collections.

Bin collections are likely to continue into the weekend, and there will be further updates on those arrangements.

It is hoped that warmer temperatures will see the icy conditions on roads and pavements start to improve. However, gritting crews will be out this evening (Thursday) and the situation will continue to be monitored.

Please keep putting your bin out on your usual collection date. If it’s not collected then put it out each day until crews get to you - and thank you for your patience.

Thursday January 18 AM - FURTHER UPDATE 10AM

Bins

Biffa crews are now out collecting bins this morning following further snowfall overnight in the east of the borough.

The crews will aim to catch up on yesterday’s (Wednesday) scheduled work. However, it is unlikely they will be able to complete all scheduled rounds. 

Residents are advised to put their bin out on their normal scheduled day and, if not collected, to put their bin out each day until it is emptied.

Thursday January 18 AM UPDATE

Bins

Biffa crews are not currently out collecting bins this morning following further snowfall overnight in the east of the borough.

At the moment, vehicles are being prepared to go out later this morning, and if this is possible the crews will aim to catch up on yesterday’s (Wednesday) scheduled work. However, it is unlikely they will be able to complete all scheduled rounds. 

Residents are advised to put their bin out on the normal scheduled day and, if not collected, to put it out each day until it is emptied.

Gritting

Teams have been out twice overnight gritting all planned routes, at 10.30pm and 5.30am. Temperatures are due to increase slightly later today but side roads, sheltered areas and pavements may still be icy.

The council’s gritters had distributed 700 tonnes by Wednesday and continue to work across the borough. The gritters will grit main routes again when needed and some problem areas will continue to be prioritised today too.

SEN

SEN transport has been affected by the additional snowfall overnight. Users are being contacted directly to let them know of the situation and how it may affect them.

17 January AM update:

There’s less snow out there today but it is icy in patches. We have some service updates for you:

Gritting

Our teams were out from 2.30am this morning (17 January) to around 7am gritting all planned routes after it had stopped raining. Our gritting teams are still applying treatment to main routes when required and some problem areas will be prioritised today too. Temperatures are due to come up a little bit today but another cold evening night is expected. Our crews will continue to monitor weather reports and assess the situation. Side roads, sheltered areas and pavements may still be icy so take care and allow extra time for journeys, just in case.

Bins

Biffa are back out today (17 January) catching up on collections. The advice from our teams is to put your bin out on your usual day and if they don't collect it, leave it out until they do. Crews are aiming to catch up by the following day but if it is not collected, additional crews will be operating over the weekend and aim to have all outstanding collections completed by Monday 22 January. Street cleansing teams are also back to business as usual.

Health

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an AMBER cold-health alert. They have advice available on their website to help you keep yourself and anyone you care for warm and well.

If you or someone you care for is struggling with energy costs, support is available via www.wirral.gov.uk/costofliving or call Ask us Wirral at 0808 2787848.

Tuesday 16 January - evening update:

Gritting

The current weather forecast overnight is possible rain and wintry showers until 1am with low temperatures and ice predicted at 5am. Our gritters will be out again tonight covering all planned routes.

Tuesday 16 January - PM update:

Bin collections update

Due to snow and ice, bin collections did not take place on Tuesday (16 January). If your bin was due to be collected on Tuesday, please leave it out on Wednesday.

There may be delays to collections later in the week as our teams catch up with the backlog. Teams will be working on Saturday to clear any backlog. If your bin is not picked up on the scheduled day, please leave it out and it will be collected as soon as possible.

ERIC bulky item collection update

Due to snow and ice, bulky item collections did not take place on Tuesday (16 January). If you had booked a collection for Tuesday, your items will be picked up on Wednesday.

Tuesday 16 January - PM update:

Keeping warm and well

When the temperature drops it can be difficult for our older friends and family, and those with medical conditions. If you do get the chance to help someone, remind them that wrapping up in multiple layers is better than using one thick layer and if they can do, to try and keep their rooms up to about 18C.

Support with energy costs is available through the council’s website or by calling Ask us Wirral at 0808 2787848. Anyone who needs help with healthcare can contact their GP, local pharmacy or NHS 111 – dialling 999 if it’s an emergency.

Support for rough sleepers

Freezing temperatures are expected to continue for the next few days.

If you’re concerned about someone sleeping rough please report it at: http://thestreetlink.org.uk and the team will link them with the local support.

If you think the person is in immediate danger, needs medical assistance, or is under 18, please call 999. #BeTheLink

Tuesday 16 January - AM update:

Wirral has seen an uneven distribution of snowfall overnight.

Parts of the borough’s east side (namely Wallasey, New Brighton and parts of Birkenhead) have been more heavily affected than the west (West Kirby, Heswall). As a result we can provide the following service updates:

• All bin collections have been suspended due to heavy snowfall on the east side, where our depot is based, making transit unsafe. ERIC (bulky waste) and street cleansing have also been stood down.
• Transport to adult day services and SEN schools has also been stood down.
• Many schools on the east side are affected. Schools will notify parents of any closures directly.

Our gritters were out from 7.30pm last night (15 January) and again from 5.30am this morning (16 January) due to the temperatures on the roads. All 12 vehicles were out and all planned routes were covered. But we would still advise road users to allow extra time for any journeys.

Our teams will be meeting regularly throughout the day and we will share any further updates as they become available on this page.