Five ways of keeping schools and colleges open when winter snows set in

Schools and colleges are under increasing pressure to stay open through bad winter weather.
So here we are suggesting five ways of ensuring premises stay open by keeping paths and playgrounds and communal areas free from snow and ice.

It is important to plan now, before the harsh conditions set, in order to be ready before the wintry conditions and the simplest system is provide by our Pro Winter Snow & Ice Treatment Package.
This offers all you need for dealing with snow and ice at smaller premises in a great value-for-money package.
It consists of an MD Pro 125P salt and ice melt spreader, ten 19.75 kg tubs of magic ice melt, and three large Garant Canadian snow shovels.
The spreader is designed to work in tough conditions so it won’t seize up when it freezes.
The flow rate and spread are easily controlled and it has a 60 litre hopper with a weatherproof screen.
The spread is ten to 12 ft; and patterned pneumatic tyres give great grip.
The LNT Magic Ice Melt is non corrosive and is used by airports and railways. It won’t harm animals or plants or astroturf.
Plus it is completely biodegradable and has six times the coverage of conventional rock salt.
And the Garant Large Canadian Snow Shovel combines as a pusher with a 45 cm head and an ash shaft. And remember there are three of these in this package.
This is a simple package which will be a boon to schools and colleges this winter and costs £599, a saving of almost £100 on the individual prices of each of the components.
Additional spreaders, tubs of ice melt and shovels can be bought for special prices as well.
Delivery is free within two to three working days.
Snow ploughs are not only for main roads and airports; there are pedestrian models available for small areas as well.

The Mountfield Manor 95H Two-Wheeled Snow Plough is perfect for schools and will clear paths and communal areas quickly and efficiently and thanks to a rubber strip on the base of the blade can clear right back to the original surface.
The Honda engine is designed for minimum fuel consumption and quiet running and has a high torque even in low revs.
It has forward and reverse gears and has been designed to clear right up to the edges or walls and paths.
The blade gives a clearing width of 85 cm and can adjusted to clear either to the left or right, and large pneumatic tyres give excellent control and traction.
You can also buy a sweeper brush for this model, useful for clearing leaves and twigs in the summer and autumn.
This machine costs £848 compared with the manufacturer’s recommended price of £928.
Delivery is free within two to three working days and there is a one year maker’s warranty.
An increasingly popular machine with local authorities and schools and educational establishments is the snow blower and we have a huge selection on our site.

The McCulloch SB121 Single-Stage Petrol Snow Blower is a single stage blower which offers excellent value for money and is currently on special offer.
A 208 cc engine powers the machine along via front rubber augurs which break up the ice and snow and then throw it through the exit chute away from the area you are clearing.
The engine has been designed to start easily in cold weather and the chute is turned by a handle to alter the direction and pitch of the snow.
The working width is 54 cm and the intake height is 33 cm.
Folding handles mean it is easy to transport around the premises and takes up little storage room.
Currently you can save £150 on this machine as it costs just £349.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year maker’s warranty.
A larger and more substantial machine is the MTD M56 Snow Blower.

This one works by firstly dragging in the snow and ice via rotating augurs into a central chamber where a powerful impellor then breaks it down further and blows it away through an adjustable chute.
It is self propelled with a 179 cc engine designed to cope with bitter conditions and large wheels with special snow tyres for greater manoeuvrability.
It has a clearing width of 56 cm and an intake height of 41 cm so it can cope with heavy falls.
It costs £549 as against the recommended retail price of £699. Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.

And the final one is bigger again, the MTD ME 66 Snow Blower, a 2 stage self-propelled model.
This has a wider clearance width and is suitable for larger areas like larger car parks and concourses.
The power is from a 277 cc Snow Thor X engine designed for freezing conditions.
Like the previous machine it is dual stage with a front augur and separate impellor to blow the snow and ice away.
It has an intake height of 53 cm and clearance width of 66 cm and there are four forward and two reverse gears with a gear lever located at the centre of the instrument panel.
Integrated snow skids allow you to adjust the working height according to the surface.
There is an electric start and a headlight so you can work in the gloom.
It costs £999 and that’s £300 less than the maker’s recommended price and a one year maker’s guarantee.
Delivery is free the next working day.
Please remember that if you’re snowed in there is every chance that we will find delivery difficult so please order in plenty of time in order to keep your school or college open when the snow starts falling.
For a wider selection of snow blowers, see the special pages on our site.