Freezing weather delays home care (From Croydon Guardian)

Freezing weather delays home care services for Richmond's elderly and vulnerable residents

11:33am Monday 20th December 2010 in News By Paul Teed

Elderly and vulnerable residents face disruption to home care services after the freezing weather tightened its grip on the borough.

Richmond Council said snow and ice may also delay its meals-on-wheels deliveries.

The lowest UK temperature last night was thought to be -19.6C in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Heavy snow fell across London on Saturday, causing travel disruption across the capital as roads and pavements became hazardous.

Forecasters have warned more snow could hit south-east England this afternoon.

A spokesman for Richmond Council said: “As it stands at the moment, all the main routes in the borough are open. They were gritted nine times over the weekend and our teams are continuing on 24 hour stand-by.”

He added: “All four of our intensive day care centres are currently open. Community meals are running as normal, although there may be some delay due to the road conditions.

“There are some delays also to home care services.”

Biba Penniall, of Nelson Road, Whitton, claimed the council had not gritted the road for two weeks, causing a slow-moving van to skid and bump into a car.

The authority said its gritting lorries prioritise all the borough’s main routes before moving onto smaller streets.

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