London Gatwick colleagues have completed more than 4,000 hours of training as the airport prepares to deal with adverse weather conditions this winter.

Around 200 airport staff – primarily from the Security and Passenger Operations teams – have volunteered to be trained as ‘Polar Bears’ – ready to operate London Gatwick’s extensive fleet of winter vehicles, including tractors and snow ploughs, should it snow.

The ‘Polar Bears’ have been trained over the past few weeks on operating the vehicles and how to clear snow and ice from the airfield, in line with the airport’s adverse weather plan.

Mark Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, London Gatwick said: “We put a lot of planning in place for our winter operation, starting as soon as the previous winter ends. Our priority is the always safety of our passengers and staff, and to ensure they can travel through the airport as efficiently as possible.  

“We rehearse our processes to make sure we get it right. While we can’t control the weather, it’s vital we have comprehensive plans in place to deal with inclement conditions as best as possible, to ensure the airport can remain operational and people get away on their holidays – particularly over the festive period.”  

The ‘Polar Bears’ are just one of several proactive plans London Gatwick has in place to ensure the airport can run smoothly and safely throughout winter. Other preparations include landside volunteers – known as ‘Yetis’ – on standby to grit 27 miles of the airport’s road network, alongside its car parks and bus routes.

The airport has 70 tonnes of grit stored on site, as well 350,000 litres of liquid de-icer, and 25,000kg of solid de-icer, alongside 80 winter vehicles from articulated snow clearing vehicles, to de-icers, gritters and snow cutters.

These preparations will help passengers jet off to more than 220 worldwide destinations this winter, including new long-haul services to Bangkok and Islamabad with British Airways, and new short-haul flights to Luxor in Egypt (TUI and easyJet), Evenes in Norway (Norwegian), and Brest in France (Volotea).

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is installing more than 120 new solar-powered litter bins across the borough.

Capable of holding at least five times more than traditional litter bins, these Big Belly Bins will need emptying less often – helping the Council to improve its environmental and financial sustainability.

Using solar power, the smart bins compact the waste inside and send an alert to the borough’s Cleansing team so they can be emptied only when needed and before they become full. With fewer journeys being necessary, the Council will reduce its fuel costs and pollution and free up time for the Cleansing team to focus on other work, such as clearing up fly tips and graffiti.

Cllr Hannah Avery, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We’re taking litter seriously and our new solar-powered bins, including eight recycling bins, will make it easier for people to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and help keep Reigate & Banstead litter free and looking good.

“Not only will these smart, solar-powered bins help us to reduce our carbon footprint, but they’ll look smart too: some will have eye-catching designs to celebrate the borough and some will be particularly hungry creatures that may even thank you in person for feeding them. There really will be no excuse for dropping litter in the borough.”

Over the next two weeks, new bins will be popping up in areas of high footfall, such as town centres, and older bins will be removed to avoid street clutter. Some of the new bins will be colourful designs showcasing local attractions and others will be more classic in style.

Nine of the new bins will be able to talk back, so listen out for the big-bellied monsters outside schools, the sea creatures in Lady Neville Park playground, and the new penguin in Woodhatch Park. The Council is working with local schools near the new talking bins to record messages so you may even recognise them.

Recycling bins in the busiest town centre locations will allow people to dispose of plastic, cans and bottles in a more environmentally sustainable way. The recycled waste can be transformed into materials for new products and will reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

The new bins, provided and installed by Future Street, have been funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) which is a charge on new development to help fund the infrastructure needed to support new homes and businesses.

A man has been jailed for a series of planned robberies in Crawley.

It was heard that Erasmus Darkwah would either find his victim or meet someone known to him in an alley way off Northgate Road and threaten them with a smashed glass bottle.

On 14 April, a man in his 30s used the alleyway as a shortcut when he was met with Darkwah. He stole his phone.

On 15 April and 27 May, Darkwah arranged to met two men in their 40s and 50s respectively via a dating app. When he met them both, he took them down the same alley off Northgate Road, threatened them with a bottle, and stole their phones.

Similarly, on 2 June, a man in his 20s was walking down the alley when Darkwah threatened him and demanded his phone. The victim managed to escape without handing over any property.

On 3 June, Darkwah, 29, of Northgate Road, Crawley was arrested and later charged with three counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery.

He pleaded guilty to all four charges at [Lewes Crown Court?] on 15 August.

On 15 November, he was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Martin Drabble said: “This pattern of incidents was concerning for the community and it was vital that teams across the county worked hard to secure charges for Darkwah.

“I am glad the sentence reflects the harm he caused to his victims. To put your trust into someone, only for them to rob and threaten you, is shocking.

“This sentence should also act as a deterrent for potential offenders and to show that we will investigate and put you before the courts.”