Snow chaos at the University of York looks to be a thing of the past after a Freedom of Information Act request revealed the comprehensive Severe Weather Planning procedures created by the Estates Department.
Grounds staff are equipped with one snow blower, four trailed gritters, three snow ploughs and a small army of tractors to deal with freezing weather. The department is on standby until early April to deal with every eventuality.
Staff begin severe weather operations at 6am when frost or snow is expected, with two teams of six patrolling the campus on a fortnightly rota. From the Vice Chancellor’s drive to the Science Park, grounds staff cover the entire campus in the gritting operation.
With the freezing weather in the USA expected to cross the Atlantic in the coming fortnight, the university is ready for whatever the Arctic storm brings.