Snow and Ice Policy

Blackfriars Hall Snow and Ice Policy (Student Accommodation)

Sites covered: 16–17 St John Street (rear gardens) and 33 St Giles (terrace and rear courtyard)

1. Purpose

This policy sets out procedures to ensure that outdoor areas at Blackfriars Hall are made safe during snow and ice conditions, and clarifies where responsibilities lie for areas adjoining public highways.

2. Areas Covered

2.1 16–17 St John Street

• Small rear gardens, including footpaths, steps, and access routes to residential accommodation.

2.2 33 St Giles

• Rear terrace
• Rear courtyard
• External access paths used by residents, staff, and visitors.

3. Internal Responsibilities (Blackfriars Hall)

3.1 Trigger for Action

Snow and ice clearance will begin:

• When snowfall exceeds 2 cm, or
• When surfaces are visibly icy.

3.2 Clearance Times

• Main access paths, steps, and primary circulation routes: there are none covered by this policy due to the Hall’s small site footprint.
• Secondary areas (gardens, bin access routes)
  Cleared by 12:00 noon.
• Re-check window: surfaces reviewed again at 3:00 PM for re-freezing or deterioration.

 3.3 Methods

• Manual clearance using shovels and scrapers and application of salt/grit from on?site stores.

3.4 Storage and Supplies

• Grit bins maintained on?site at Blackfriars Priory and restocked every October.
• Snow shovels and de?icing materials stored centrally at each site.

4. Priority Routes

4.1 Highest Priority (where applicable)

• Main entrance paths
• Fire exits and evacuation routes
• Ramps and steps
• Access routes to bin storage and deliveries

4.2 Medium Priority

• Paths within rear gardens
• Rear courtyard circulation areas

5. Responsibilities Where Property Adjoins the Public Highway

Blackfriars Hall’s properties at St John Street and St Giles border public footways.
The Hall is responsible for keeping its own premises safe, but public highway clearance is NOT the Hall’s responsibility.

5.1 What the Local Authority Is Responsible For

Oxfordshire County Council, as the highways authority, is responsible for:

• Keeping major roads and key routes safe using precautionary salting and snow clearance measures, with a focus on major roads, bus routes, access to hospitals, and strategic transport corridors.
• Gritting approximately 43% of the county’s road network, prioritising high?use and essential routes.
• Fulfilling their statutory duty under the Highways Act 1980 to ensure, “so far as is reasonably practicable,” that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.

5.2 Pavements (Public Footways)

• Most pavements are considered part of the public highway, and therefore responsibility for gritting them lies with the local council, not adjoining property owners.
• Councils only treat priority pavements, usually in the city centre or areas of high footfall. Oxford City Council confirms that they grit high-footfall areas such as central Oxford paths and key pedestrian link routes.
• Where councils do not treat residential streets, they often provide grit bins for public use.

5.3 What Blackfriars Hall May (Optionally) Do

• Clear snow from the public pavement immediately outside its entrances as a voluntary gesture if safe and practical, but this is not a legal requirement.
• Staff must avoid obstructing the highway and must ensure that cleared snow is not pushed into the carriageway.

6. Communication

6.1 Residents and Staff

• Residents will be notified via email when snow/ice procedures are activated.
• Staff responsible for clearance will be part of an internal rota.

6.2 Reporting Hazards

• All staff and residents should immediately report hazardous icy conditions on Hall property.

7. Review Cycle

• Policy will be reviewed every October ahead of the winter season.