The recent severe cold snap in mid-January and, earlier, in December, has focused attention on what provision is available in Hambledon to grit roads and pathways.

The problems caused by icy roads have been compounded by repeated water leaks and heavy rain, followed by severe frost, causing surface water to freeze, making walking and driving hazardous.

Surrey County Council, as highways authority, provides three grit bins in the village; at the top of Church Lane, on Roundals Lane near the site of the former brickworks and, most centrally, at the junction of Cricket Green with Hambledon Road.

SCC undertakes to inspect and refill its bins once at the beginning of each winter season. Its policy on this issue can be found by using the following link to the SCC website where you can also find a map of each bin location in the county.

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roadworks-and-maintenance/salting-and-gritting/grit-bin-locations-in-surrey

Following the severe snowfall in the winters of 2009 and 2010, when Hambledon was cut off for several days, parish councils were encouraged to formulate an emergency plan. In Hambledon we established set procedures to deal with emergencies, especially those that are weather-related.

The village now gets gritters and snow ploughs along the length of Hambledon Road (but not adjoining lanes) when circumstances require, and a local farmer has been provided with additional ploughs to use in conjunction with his tractors.

The parish council also purchased and installed an additional grit bin, which can be found at the top of Woodlands Road. The council is responsible for refilling it. Recently the lid has become misshapen, allowing water to get inside and degrade the quality of the rock salt.

Until a repair can be carried out, the council has placed bags of unopened rock salt inside the bin, which can be ripped open and used when required. Five bags were delivered by the council to the bin in mid-January (see photo).

The council also offers advice and emergency telephone numbers. The latest version of this can be found in previous parish magazines and by using the search bar on the village website. You can use the link below to find a version, produced when Covid restrictions prevailed, but with relevant information for 2023.

https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=7991