As Welland continues to scrape, shovel, and shuck snow from roads and sidewalks, the City would like to remind homeowners of their responsibilities in maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their property.

With recent heavy and significantly accumulated snowfall, shovelling residential driveways and sidewalks can be difficult, even with snowblowers. The City’s sidewalk plows required additional apparatuses, and as a result, were delayed in completing services throughout the community.

“We know these lasts rounds of snowstorms have been difficult to get caught up on from a clearing perspective,” said CAO Steve Zorbas. “Our crews and community have done an outstanding job to date. We just want to remind everyone that we all have a role to play to ensure we have safe walkways and paths for people to get where they are going, whether that’s in their own neighbourhoods or on city streets.”

By-law 2008-185 regulates when homeowners are required to clear snow and ice from City sidewalks:

Every owner of property shall remove fallen snow and ice from the public

sidewalk adjacent to their property no later than 24 hours after the substantial

end of a snowfall or precipitation event, or the substantial end of a series of

consecutive snowfalls or precipitation.

In addition to sidewalks, residents are asked to keep the areas around fire hydrants clear for emergency services to access should the need arise. Keep at least one metre around the hydrant free of snow and buildup. Every second in an emergency is critical, and not having to dig out a hydrant could save a life.