HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to dig deep to help deal with another big freeze.

Buckley Town Council members have backed plans outlined by Bistre East member Cllr Richard Jones for the town to adopt an Identifying Community Engagement (ICE) project, where residents will assist in clearing snow away from
the community’s paths and laying in salt.

Cllr Jones, who is also a county councillor, has obtained items such as shovels and bagged salt on a loan agreement from Flintshire Council by making it a county pilot scheme and is ready to take to the streets if the snow strikes again this weekend.

He said: “This scheme will not interfere with what Flintshire County Council are doing as a statutory requirement. We are looking to go further into the community than where Flintshire currently does its work in the town centre.

“When the weather has been bad gritting teams have then had to keep going back to the same places the next day, whereas we would look to include areas such as where elderly people live and near schools. I need people who live here to come forward and do their bit for Buckley by volunteering.”

ICE will work alongside the gardeners employed in the town by Flintshire, as they are involved in gritting operations during the winter months.

Cllr Jones, who will ring the volunteers when inclement weather strikes, said the relevant risk assessments have been carried out and insurance obtained to perform the operation.

He added: “The potential exists for the volunteer scheme to be part of Buckley for a long time and I believe other communities in Flintshire will also want to do it. This is not just about volunteering for dealing with snow, it is also about having volunteers on a register to help in other situations.”

Cllr Jones has held meetings with Scout leaders about members’ involvement tying in with their requirements for a community badge, while also looking at recruiting people currently between jobs.

During this week’s town council meeting Cllr Ron Hampson gave his backing to Cllr Jones’ plans and described them as a “very good idea”.

A suggestion that the council look at obtaining a hand spreader  is to be looked at further. Anyone willing to register as a volunteer should call Cllr Jones on 01244 546982 or 07762820350.