Emergency accommodation for every rough sleeper in Wiltshire
Wiltshire Council extends a helping hand amid a severe cold snap brought on by Storm Christoph
Temperatures are due to drop below freezing for the next couple of days over the weekend.
Wiltshire Council have activated their 'Severe Weather Emergency Provisions' (SWEP) until Monday (24 Jan 2021).
It means accommodation will be found for every homeless person in the county.
The council has a statutory duty to trigger SWEP for anyone who is sleeping rough when the weather is predicted to fall to zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights.
Temperatures are forecast to be at sub zero temperatures over the weekend based on current predictions. As a result Wiltshire Council is offering a bed and overnight accommodation for those affected. All rough sleepers known to the local authority have already had an offer of accommodation previously and are reminded again that this help remains available.
EMERGENCY HELPLINE
Please call Telephone the emergency number on 0300 456 0100 for help.
WHAT THE FORECASTERS SAY
According to The Met Office:
"There's colder weather in store for many as Storm Christoph pulls away from the UK and rainfall starts to ease, although river levels in parts of the UK could continue to rise for a little time to come."
Their Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, has said:
"Colder air is now established across the UK as Storm Christoph moves away into the North Sea, and gale force winds will impact the northeast of the country."
The cold weather is expected to stay with us throughout the weekend and into next week with some sunny spells and wintry showers. The southern half of the UK is likely to be more unsettled with some spells of rain, and perhaps also some snow.