Residents are being advised by Weir Estate Residents Association to take extra care during the sudden change in temperatures which have seen some of the earliest snowfall in other parts of the UK for almost twenty years. Weather forecasters are also predicting snow for the London area at the beginning of the week.

Those living and visiting Weir Estate are advised to take extra care during the cold snap and are issuing general advice and guidance as well as requesting residents to check in on their older and more vulnerable neighbours during the colder weather conditions as they tend to be more at risk and isolated.

As part of the advice being offered, residents are reminded to take extra care should it snow and the subsequent ice, which as last February’s heavy snow showed, estate roads become treacherous and very dangerous.
Sadly Lambeth estate roads are not generally gritted much like the main roads and routes in the area such as Weir Road and the South Circular.

The following advice obtained from the NHS is a guide on how to keep warm and stay safe during the icy conditions as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing particularly at night.

Follow these tips to keep you and your family warm and well in extremely cold weather.

To keep warm and well during periods of cold weather:

  • Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts.
  • Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter.
  • Wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer).
  • Keep as active as possible.
  • Wrap up warm if you need to go outside on cold days.

Keep your main living room at around 18- 21°C (64-70°F), and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F). If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep.

Icy conditions:
Icy pavements and roads can very slippery. Take extra care if you go out and wear boots or shoes with good grip on the soles. The Met Office advises putting grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping. It adds that you should wait until the roads have been gritted if you’re travelling by car. Bear in mind that black ice on pavements or roads might not be clearly visible, and that compacted snow may turn to ice and become slippery.

Weather warnings:
The Met Office provide the weather forecasts for broadcasts on radio and TV, so listen in to these bulletins regularly to keep up to date with the weather.  Severe weather warnings are also issued on the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk, or you can ring the customer centre on 0870 900 0100

Check the Met Office weather forecast.

Look out for others:
Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather. Cold weather is especially dangerous for older people or people with serious illnesses, so check up on them if you can. Read how to spot and treat hypothermia.

People with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems may have worse symptoms during a cold spell and for several days after temperatures return to normal.

PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE DURING THE COLD WEATHER AND STAY SAFE.