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News & Media > Highway Services

30:03:2010

Snow Summit 'huge success'

A ‘Snow Summit’ hosted by Essex County Council and sponsored by May Gurney has been heralded a ‘huge success’.

The inaugural summit saw 150 delegates gather at the Radisson Blu, Stansted, to explore the impact this winter had on services across the UK and to look to best practice for the future.

Supported by the LGA, the summit was addressed by speakers from national and local government as well as suppliers and practitioners.

Delegates took part in a range of sessions from how to meet expectations and increased demand, to hearing from European experts on how they best deliver winter services in cold-weather climates.

The outcomes of the summit will feed into the LGA’s review process and will influence future policy.

Norman Hume, Essex County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “The Snow Summit has been a huge success. We’ve seen industry leaders gather together to talk about ways to improve winter services in the future and I’m proud that we’ve been able to facilitate this dialogue.”

John Dowie, Department for Transport, who spoke at the Summit said: “Today’s event is important because the solution lies in all of our hands. It requires co-operation between local and central governments as well as travellers themselves, so bringing these parties together is crucial.”

Ian Cousins, May Gurney's strategic director for Essex, said: "We were pleased to sponsor this event which attracted expert speakers and delegates from across Europe. A key theme which emerged from the conference is the opportunity to extend partnership working across the highways and local authority communities."

Footnote: In Essex we are responsible for maintaining 3,600 kms of roads and footpaths and 140,000 street lights. The services we provide include carriageway and footpath maintenance, individual schemes up to £500k, winter maintenance, emergency callout, dealing with accidents and other obstructions, potholes and clearing fly tipping.

Click here to read more about May Gurney's work in partnership with Essex County Council.