Winter onset in the Havelland: Who has to clear and what do you stick for?

With the current onset of winter in the Havelland, residents are required to act quickly in order to free the sidewalks of snow and smoothness. Like the Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung reports, it is the responsibility of the residents to clear the sidewalks in front of their property, while the municipalities are responsible for the evacuation of traffic -important municipal roads. Winter service in municipal areas and other important places, such as bus stops, is carried out by service providers and extends over seven days a week from November to March.

residents must have the sidewalks in different widths, depending on the municipality. In Friesack, Rathenow, Premnitz, Nennhausen, Dallgow-Döberitz, Schönwalde-Glien and Milower Land, the width is 1.50 meters, in Brieselang it is 1.20 meters and in Falkensee, Nauen, Ketzin/Havel and Wustermark must be released. In addition, 1.50 meters must also be cleared on lanes without a separate sidewalk. Particular attention is paid to the pedestrian crossings and dangerous places that need to be scattered.

residents and fines

The use of salt or other thawing substances is generally prohibited, but exceptions from ice rain and dangerous areas are provided. Residents are obliged to immediately remove snow and smoothness from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the following snowfall, after 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. on working days and until 9 a.m. on Sundays and public holidays. If the effect of the scatter is lost or the snowfall stops, the residents must sprinkle again. Violations can be punished with fines of 5 to 1000 euros.

The district road construction yard in Rathenow is responsible for evacuation of 170 kilometers of district streets, which has 15 employees and four emergency vehicles. Around 450 tons of salt and two sile containers with 240 tons of capacity are used annually. In addition, a new warehouse in Bredow receives a capacity for 800 tons of salt, the costs of which are estimated at 2.45 million euros. A brine production system ensures preventive treatment of the streets and reduces salt consumption.

A look at the experiences from past winters shows that according to the city of Brandenburg there was already unpahled and unspeaked roads in front of residential plots in January 2016. The city administration has therefore informed property owners about its residents' duties in accordance with the street cleaning and fee statute, which was also published in the Official Journal. Owners are obliged to clear and spread the sidewalks on their adjacent properties, whereby the spatial scope of sidewalks on roads without a structural separation must be at least 1.50 meters.

The regulations for the clearing and scattering times are clear: snow and smoothness should be removed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. immediately after the snowfall ended. The use of stray funds is also regulated, with mainly dulling materials such as sand or grit are used. Salt can be avoided on sidewalks, it may only be used in special exceptional cases, for example in ice rain and in particularly dangerous places.

For questions or information, residents can contact the city administration under the telephone numbers (03381) 58 31 19 or (03381) 58 31 40