BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS, FUNFAIR IS OFF – AND PUT YOUR BINS OUT EARLIER

EMERGENCY repair teams will be on duty over the next few days in case the extreme heat damages roads across the city and county.

Both Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council said they will have crews ready in the event of surfaces being damaged.

A city council spokesman said: “Climate change means we will increasingly need to prepare for extreme weather conditions, including the sort of very high temperatures we expect next week.

“Our most recent experience of extremely hot weather was in July 2019, when temperatures in Leicester reached 39C.

“On that occasion, however, roads weren’t affected.

“Having said that, prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause surfaces to become tacky and we therefore have emergency plans in place that would include applying granite dust or sand to surfaces that have become slippery or sticky, and closing roads that are seriously compromised.

“With temperatures forecast to reach 36C in Leicester early next week, we’ll be monitoring conditions closely and activating our emergency plan if necessary.”

Councillor Ozzy O’ Shea, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “So far, we have only had to treat one road due to the hot weather.

“We will continue to monitor roads across our highways network, particularly over the weekend and early next week as temperatures are forecast to rise.

“The roads most vulnerable are those with a newer surface and we have crews ready to respond by dusting to prevent problems.”

LEICESTER City Council has urged people to put their bins, recycling bags and garden waste out earlier than usual next week to help collection teams avoid the worst of the searing temperatures.

Households across the city are asked to make sure their wheelie bins and orange bags are ready for collection by 6am from Tuesday onwards.

People who take part in the council’s green waste service and who are expecting a collection on Monday are also being urged to ensure their green wheelie bin is available for collection by the earlier time of 6am.

The city council and other authorities across the wider county said they want to give collection crews time to complete their rounds in the cooler morning temperatures. Councillor Adam Clarke, deputy mayor for environment and transportation, pictured, said: “Biffa’s collection crews do a brilliant job in often challenging circumstances. “With some of the hottest temperatures of the year expected next week, it’s important that we do our bit to help out.”

The household waste recycling centres at Gypsum Close and Freemen’s Common will be open from 8am until 8pm as normal, the city council said.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council and Blaby District Council have both asked residents to put their bins out earlier.

North West Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth and Harborough councils have said there will be no changes to schedules.

THE Billy Bates funfair in Abbey Park, Leicester, is to be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

The operator said: “This decision has been made to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, visitors and in particular any vulnerable visitors.

“Several concerns have led to this decision, including the possibility of burns from hot surfaces and the overheating of machinery.

“There is also awareness of the pressures on the emergency services should the need arise.”