Met Eireann has issued a severe weather alert for the entire country starting from this morning [Friday] and running into next week, with ice forecast for day and night and extensive snow.
Westmeath County Council has mobilised staff, plant, and materials to combat this severe weather and these resources will be deployed as required. However, they say priority must be given to national primary and national secondary routes followed by the other identified priority routes in the county, as shown on the gritting map on the council’s website.
The council has a very limited stock of salt and this will be used on the priority routes. A mixture of salt and grit or grit only will be used on other routes until salt stocks are replenished. In this regard, the public are advised to exercise extreme caution when travelling, both by car and on foot.
The council is appealing in particular to property owners to clear the footpaths in front of their premises as soon as possible after each snowfall to prevent this snow from compacting in the interests of public safety. The council will not have the resources to clear all footpaths and this assistance is essential.
Updates will issue as the situation develops. Members of the public are advised to visit www.westmeathcoco.ie for updates.
