The City of Edinburgh Council is set to keep the city moving throughout wintry conditions forecast this week.

With freezing temperatures, snow and ice expected, plans are underway to minimise any resulting disruption.

Temporary traffic management measures, such as traffic signals, in place for inactive road and pavement works will be removed by the Council and public utility companies where possible, allowing the smoother flow of traffic.

Gritting teams are also out night and day treating and monitoring priority routes, while the Council’s severe winter weather tactical response team are on standby should a weather emergency strike.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “Our priority is to keep the city moving whatever the weather, and our team has already been out around the clock ensuring roads, pavements and cycle paths are gritted and safe to travel on.

“In light of the latest forecasts we’re making arrangements to clear routes of obstructions where possible, opening up the network and making it easier for the public to get about during the cold spell.”

The 939 miles of roads plus additional pavements and cycle routes in Edinburgh are treated on a priority basis, with important principal roads, bus routes and roads and pavements leading to hospitals, care homes, schools and fire stations amongst those gritted first.

The public can find out about priority road, cycle path and pavement gritting routes by visiting the Council website’s live winter weather pages which include an interactive map so that residents can locate their nearest salt bin.

If and when severe weather strikes, the Council will use its social media channels, website and local radio stations to keep residents updated on any impact on services.

Children and young people spending their Christmas in hospital this year are set to have an extra special experience – to see snow falling on the hospital – thanks to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC).

To make sure that the last Christmas in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, before the move to its new home at Little France next year, is an extra-special one, ECHC is appealing to the people of Scotland to support their vital work that ensures children and young people get to be a child first and patient second this festive season.

To kick start the festive cheer on Friday December 1, the charity is going to make snow fall on the famous front of the hospital. The honour of turning on the magical projection has been given to Ruby Smith, who spent last Christmas in RHSC.

With just a month to go before Christmas day, ECHC is calling upon communities to help support its campaign to make Christmas extra special and asking Santa to stop at the hospital one last time.

Roslyn Neely, CEO of Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Christmas is such an exciting time of year for children and we believe that being in hospital shouldn’t compromise its magic.

“Spending time in our homes, in the company of our families on Christmas morning is something that can often be taken for granted. But, children who need to spend Christmas in hospital shouldn’t have to feel like they’re missing out on anything.

“Many people don’t realise that the fun, distractions, games and décor that can help a child feel much less frightened when they come into the hospital, particularly during special occasions such as Christmas, are funded by us.

“We’re campaigning to make sure that children at the hospital get to spend December eagerly anticipating the arrival of Santa, presents and their loved ones. The work of the hospital doesn’t stop at Christmas but we hope that Santa will remember to stop here one last time.”

A donation of £15 could help provide fun, creativity and a distraction from treatment by delivering a wide variety of arts activities for children and young people. Gifting £30 could help fund our parents’ accommodation meaning parents and carers can stay close to their child in hospital. Nothing is more important than memories with family and a donation of £75 could help us put on a Christmas movie night.

If you would like more information on how to support the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s Christmas appeal, visit the website here: www.echcharity.org.