NEWS RELEASE

16 August 2011

Try socks over shoes - and disruption details

People in Wellington's higher suburbs should think about slipping a pair of thick socks over their shoes if they are going to venture out on foot today.

That's the advice of Wellington City Civil Defence Controller Mike Mendonça, who says the socks-over-shoes fashion tip works remarkably well as a way of improving grip and stopping pedestrians from slipping over on icy or snow-covered pathways.

"I've seen quite a few people struggling to stay upright in some of the hill suburbs this morning - so the sock solution might be worth serious consideration if people want to avoid a nasty fall."

Meanwhile Mr Mendonça says rubbish and recycling collections may be disrupted today due to the fact Council trucks may not be able to make it up some of the higher and steeper streets in the western suburbs.

Rubbish and recycling is scheduled to be collected from suburbs including Wadestown, Wilton, Northland, Crofton Downs and Ngaio.

Mr Mendonça says staff will "give the collections their best shot" but some streets may prove inaccessible. He asks affected residents to take their rubbish and recycling back and hold it till the next scheduled collection day.

Library closures

The following libraries are CLOSED today due to staff shortages:

• Cummings Park (Ngaio)

• Johnsonville

• Karori

• Khandallah

• Tawa

• Wadestown.

The Nairnville Recreation Centre (Khandallah) is also closed.

ends

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