Weather which has seen many parts of the UK in the last few weeks covered in thick snow and ice, has put pay to WERA’s 2010 Annual General Meeting, resulting in its cancellation due to safety concerns of residents and guests getting to and from the meeting without slipping on the estate’s now icy roads and pavements.

WERA were due to hold their Annual General Meeting at the Weir Link on Tuesday 12th January 2010, however following further snow fall and reports suggesting even more freezing conditions predicted by the Met Office, for the days leading up to the AGM and on the day the meeting was to be held, Association Chair, Dave McEvoy has taken the decision to call off the meeting.

Weir Estate roads have been left like many other side roads and Housing Estates in Lambeth, covered in a dangerous level of ice covering the road, it was felt that residents particularly the elderly and vulnerable would be at risk from the slippery surface and the falling temperatures.

The meeting would have seen elections for 2010 Association Executive Officers and Committee Members, as well as a recap of what was achieved in what has already been hailed a truly successful year for the estates residents with thanks to the efforts of WERA, will now be rescheduled for February 2010 as this will hopefully give time for the weather and conditions to improve.

Chair Dave McEvoy explained the decision to cancel the AGM, which would have been the first meeting of the New Year “We have been monitoring the weather forecasts and have waited as late as possible to postpone the meeting but following more recent snowfall and the constant adverse low temperatures, we are concerned about the safety of residents walking on estate roads and therefore feel this is the best choice to postpone the meeting until things improve.”

Much of Britain has been blitzed by snow and ice with some parts of the country dropping to temperatures matching the South Pole.
Locally, main routes such as Weir Road have been gritted but due to shortages in grit Estate roads have not and are not routinely cleared of ice which has seen parts of the Estate becoming almost impassable by foot and making driving conditions difficult.

WERA have issued a cold weather warning on their website asking residents to take extra care on the estate and look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours during the cold snap. Mr McEvoy who has not revealed whether he will re-stand at the delayed AGM in February added “This is particularly unusual for us in London and hope it will soon pass, however we have made attempts to make the roads safer by requesting attention to the roads and once again are receiving support in this from our local councillor, Diana Morris, the AGM is a very important meeting and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

Current elected Officers will remain in post until the new AGM is held.

Residents living on the estate will now have more time to nominate either themselves or others to take up vital positions to keep the association operational or as a supporting committee member.

The cold weather and ice is anticipated to last until the middle of next week.