Bin collections fall victim to heatwave as London braces for 40C or higher

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has announced waste collections will be impacted by the heatwave

The heatwave has hit bin collection services in London as ambulances were placed on high alert and forecasters said temperatures could reach 41C in the capital at the start of next week.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich announced delays to waste collection this week as many Londoners struggle to cope with the hot weather.

But other boroughs, including Kensington Chelsea, Barnet, Haringey and Richmond-upon-Thames have said that collections should not be impacted. They will however begin at the earlier time of 5am so that workers can avoid the worst of the heat

On Friday the Met Office issued their first ever red extreme heat warning with a “threat to life”, and Londoners were warned of the dangers of going outdoors on Monday.

UK Weather: Summer Heatwave 2022

UK Met Office Issues First 'Red Warning' For Extreme Heat
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Exceptionally high temperatures are expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday, with parts of west London including Richmond and Kew set to hit 41C, according to BBC Weather.

That would smash the UK record of 38.7C, set in Cambridge in 2019.

The Met Office’s warning for extreme heat says there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects not just limited to the most vulnerable.

There could also be road closures, and delays and cancellations to rail and air travel.

Ambulance services in England are on the highest level of alert and under “extreme pressure”, trusts have confirmed, as difficulties with the hot weather combine with Covid absences among staff and ongoing delays handing patients over to A&E.

London Ambulance Service urged the public to support it as the heat continues by only calling 999 in the event of a life-threatening emergency, keeping hydrated and staying out of the sun during the hottest periods of the day.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK warned people about the dangers of trying to cool off in lakes, quarries, rivers and other waterways in the extremely hot weather.

The charity urged people to find lifeguarded swimming sites, to remember that water is often much colder than it looks, not to go too far from shore or swim against currents, and to always take a friend when swimming.

Cracked earth is seen as hot weather continues, in Parliament Square, London
Cracked earth on Parliament Square on Tuesday as the hot weather continues
REUTERS

The warning comes as West Yorkshire Police said a 16-year-old boy, Alfie McCraw, from Wakefield, had died after getting into difficulties while swimming in the Aire and Calder Navigation.

Superintendent Nick Smart said it was an “extremely tragic incident” and urged people not to be tempted to cool off in open water as temperatures got even hotter, unless it was a supervised area intended for swimming.

District Station Commander Jimmy Fitt, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “We need people of all ages to be aware of the risks - we know when it’s warm it’s tempting to get into the water, but you must only do it in safe designated areas or the consequences can be fatal.”

On the roads, the RAC recorded a 10% increase in breakdowns on Monday compared with a typical Monday in mid-July, with hundreds of vehicles across the UK not able to function properly due to the heat.

Network Rail is preparing to introduce speed restrictions to reduce the likelihood of tracks buckling as the heatwave continues, which will cause delays to passenger journeys and disrupt freight services.

Summer weather July 12th 2022
An office worker carries a large fan through Westminster
PA

Warm weather conditions will remain in place for much of the week for the majority of England and Wales, although slightly less hot on Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures ramping up again late in the week, the Met Office said.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: “From Sunday and into Monday, temperatures are likely to be in excess of 35C in the South East, although the details still remain uncertain.

“Elsewhere, temperatures could be fairly widely above 32C in England and Wales, and in the mid-to-high 20s further north.”

Downing Street said “significant work” is being done within Whitehall to ensure the most vulnerable are protected during the heatwave.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said planning had been taking place within the NHS and with local councils as well as across transport networks.

Hot weather can put a strain on the heart and lungs, with older people, those with pre-existing health conditions and young children particularly at risk.

It can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heatstroke, and affect the ability to work or concentrate.

Health Alert Issued As Hot Weather Returns To The UK
Getty Images

People are being encouraged to try to keep their homes cool, for example by closing blinds or curtains and keeping bedrooms well ventilated at night, drink plenty of fluids, avoid too much exercise and stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.

In some areas, the heatwave comes in the wake of months of below-average rainfall, and water companies are urging households to save water, as demand surges in the face of the high temperatures.

Although hosepipe bans are not currently on the cards, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water are among those warning their reservoirs and other resources are lower than normal.

People are being urged to turn off taps when brushing their teeth or washing dishes, only run dishwashers when full, switch the garden hose for watering cans, reuse paddling pool water for plants, let the lawn go brown and avoid washing cars.

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