City Building takes command of six new 4x4 vehicles to ensure its plumbers, gas engineers and joiners can attend emergency call outs.

One of Scotland’s largest construction companies is now ready and waiting for the worst of the winter weather. City Building has added six new all-terrain vehicles to its fleet of over 650 to ensure that it can reach every emergency callout that comes its way.

City Building operates repairs and maintenance contracts for clients including housing associations, schools, public buildings and private sector companies. At the end of last year’s Arctic weather it received some 4,000 emergency calls to its hotline, with burst water pipes and gas call outs among the main concerns.

The six new vehicles will be made available to plumbers, gas engineers and joiners to attend emergency callouts, with one vehicle being used to support stranded vehicles if needed. The 4x4 vehicles will also be used to ensure drinking water supplies reach those tenants without drinking water.

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Last year City Building worked in tandem with Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to ensure that bad weather didn’t spoil Christmas for tenants. Staff paid close attention to elderly or vulnerable tenants, even providing temporary heaters where required.

In 2010 City Building also bought 'snow socks' for its fleet of vans, to enable it to reach vulnerable people in hard-hit areas. This year City Building drivers have been issued with special Winter Packs which include supplies of grit, snow socks, shovels and ice scrapers.

City Building managing director John Foley said: "We’re determined to meet whatever challenges winter has in store for us this year. That’s why we’ve invested in all terrain-vehicles because we want our customers to know that we will answer their call in all conditions.

“Christmas should not be ruined by the misery of burst water pipes or gas breakdowns. Our message is that we are ready and waiting when it comes to helping the people of Central Scotland this winter."

City Building has built on its experience of handling last year’s harsh winter, with 350 Winter Inspections already undertaken for clients to date. Large supplies of grit have also been ordered in at City Building’s HQ and drinks company Barr Plc are on standby to hold supplies of drinking water for tenants if required.

GHA has also launched its own ‘WinterReady’ campaign to make sure tenants are fully geared up to deal with the worst of the weather. Anyone eligible who requests a home check will be visited by a plumber to check pipes, boilers and radiators. For more information on getting Winter Ready, GHA tenants should call 0800 479 7979.

(GK)