Hackney,
18
July
2022
|
10:49
Europe/London

Extreme heat forecast: Hackney Council issues warning and advice

Hackney Council is helping residents, and particularly our most vulnerable, to stay safe over the coming days following an unprecedented extreme heat warning from the Met Office

Temperatures across London are expected to rise dramatically over the weekend, peaking at around 40°C on Monday and Tuesday - the highest in British history. 

Here’s what the Council is doing to help keep residents safe:

  • Teams have been conducting welfare checks on the borough’s rough sleepers, providing water and sunscreen, and advising where cooler spaces and public water fountains are located
  • Staff will be setting up a number of stations in the coming days across the borough where homeless people can seek shade, provision and support
  • Adult Social Care has put enhanced arrangements in place to look after those who need extra support
  • Housing teams will be making welfare calls to vulnerable residents
  • Education teams have sent advice to schools
  • Additional ‘fire watch’ is in place across parks and open spaces 
  • Advice is being circulated daily on social media to residents on precautions to take

Temperatures of this kind can pose a serious health risk, even for fit and healthy people. It’s vital to protect yourself and others, particularly young children or older people.

Keep yourself and others safe in the heat by doing the following:

  • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
  • Try to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
  • If outside, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat
  • Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day
  • Make sure you take water with you if you are travelling
  • Look out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated. Older people, those with underlying conditions and those who live alone are particularly at risk
  • Close curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler, and remember, it may be cooler outdoors than indoors
  • Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, vulnerable adults, or animals
 Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney

The Met Office has issued an emergency heat warning for Monday and Tuesday. This means temperatures are going to get dangerously high.

We have not seen temperatures of this kind ever in the UK, and we will not be used to living and working in these conditions. That’s why I’m urging you to take care: stay cool and hydrated, and help keep others safe too. Please keep listening to the Met Office advice.

Council teams are preparing for the extreme heat including stepping up support for vulnerable residents, such as our rough sleepers, and they will be carrying out welfare calls to those we know might be at risk. Council services will also be working really hard to ensure services to residents are unaffected.

This heatwave is a very serious and dangerous consequence of climate change. It’s already causing increased drought, flooding, heatwaves and fires across the world, and now we are facing the highest temperatures ever recorded in British history.

In 2019, the Council declared a climate emergency. Since then, then we’ve done more than most other local authorities to make changes that will protect our planet for future generations: switching the Council’s electricity supply to 100% renewable; introducing 40 School Streets and 15 low traffic neighbourhoods to encourage people to leave their cars at home and walk and cycle instead; adopting a new local plan requiring developments to contribute to biodiversity; converting 1,400 sqm of space on our roads and pavements to increase wildlife; and launching the second phase of the Green Homes programme.

We have also continued to invest in our parks and green spaces, and planted thousands of street trees - the number one tool for the delivery of sustainable cooling; mitigating against the impact of both the Urban Heat Island effect and warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases. 

This heat emergency demonstrates that our vital and pioneering work to help tackle the climate emergency is needed now more than ever.

Philip Glanville, Mayor of Hackney

Water refill stations

Water refill stations are in the following locations:

  • Lee Street outside Haggerston Station
  • Ridley Road Market outside the entrance to Kingsland Shopping Centre
  • Northern end of Broadway Market outside the Cat and Mutton Pub
  • Southern end of the Narrow Way (Mare Street) outside Marks and Spencers
  • Chatsworth Road at the junction of Glenarm Road outside No.56
  • Springfield Park
  • Abney Park Cemetery
  • Clissold Park
  • Clissold Park
  • Millfields Park
  • Well Street Common
  • Clissold Park
  • London Fields
  • Hoxton Square
  • Hackney Downs
  • Stoke Newington Common
  • Hackney Downs
  • Hackney Marshes
  • Mabley Green
  • London Fields Lido Exterior of sports changing room
  • Clapton library Inside of library
  • Homerton library Inside of library
  • Shoreditch library Inside of library
  • Clissold leisure centre Exterior of sports changing room
  • Hackney Marshes centre Exterior of sports changing room
  • Dalston CLR James Library Inside of library 

Remember, most businesses will also let you refill your bottle if asked politely.

Further info

Cool Spaces across London are in place for those who need it

Further information and advice on how to stay safe in a heatwave