Traffic at a standstill as Bristol hit by blizzard conditions
Blizzard conditions and overnight snow brought travel chaos to the Bristol region again today.
Some roads in North Somerset were impassable due to a downfall of snow upto seven inches during the night.
Motorists early today said conditions were worse than yesterday.
Bus services were suspended because of the treacherous conditions.
First spokeswoman Suzannah Marsh said they were reviewing the situation every half-an-hour.
South Gloucestershire bus services were also cancelled.
Flights from Bristol International Airport were cancelled early this morning and the situation was being reviewed at 10.30am.
The Highways Agency was warning motorists to stay at home unless travelling was essential.
Motorways were reduced to the inside lane in many areas.
The M5 was reduced to one lane between Bridgwater and Taunton due to a jacknifed lorry.
The A303 was closed near Ilminster because of snow.
Heavy snowfalls were reported on roads near the airport.
Gritters worked through the night to keep open the A370.
Fallen trees blocked roads at Farrington Combe and Henbury.
Bridge Valley Road was closed in Bristol and lorries were stuck on the A37 near the Bush pub early today because they could not negotiate the hill rising from the Three Lamps junction due to the conditions.
Trains were running on the Severn Beach line and no problems were reported on rail services between Bristol and Paddington.
Weather forecasters warned that temperatures would plummet tonight causing widespread ice and frost.
Scores of schools were closed in the Bristol area today due to the weather.
Twenty-six schools were closed in the city while 22 were closed in South Gloucestershire.
Two were closed in North Somerset and 15 in Bath and North East Somerset.
27 Comments
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by myself
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 9:30AM
“yada”
by snowed in, Bristol
Friday, February 06 2009, 4:00PM
“At least the snow gives people the opportunity to demonstrate the English propensity for wingeing, backbiting, blaming the council and criticising the actions of others! Hurrah for the snow! I'm at home by the way as my work has been closed for 2 days - personally I don't think that 2 days off work in 10 years caused by inclement weather is an issue but I know many of you will choose to disagree.....”
by Andy, City Centre
Friday, February 06 2009, 3:03PM
“Comrades,
I'd be interested to know how many people demonstrating the wimpish sissy attitudes to the snow are actually civil servants who get paid no matter what.
Dont you know theres a recession on? I highly doubt that those individuals who are paid by the hour will be leaping at the chance to skive off. Theyll only be risking their own jobs if their bosses suspect as much.
As for those who create their own wealth and (incidentally) fund the schoolteachers and bus drivers: if they want to make their own decisions in life and take the day off then thats what they'll bloomin well do!
Questions?”
by Igotthere, Bristol
Friday, February 06 2009, 1:38PM
“Suzy, there are any people who have been put under pressure, despite the police warnings, to get to work,to show 'NOTHING STOPS THIS (insert 'school, shop, office'as you will). This macho attitude to staff safety is dangerous. Furthermore, Im sure you would not like it if all medical staff failed to make it through the snow. We dont all have choices.”
by Lexicographer, Bristol
Friday, February 06 2009, 1:24PM
“According to my Oxford English Dictionary a 'Blizzard' is 'a severe snowstorm with high winds'.
Did anyone other than the Editor of the Bristol Evening Post witness this?”
by Harry67, Southville
Friday, February 06 2009, 1:00PM
“As Paxman said recently what the 'essentail' in this context is meaningless. Decent People can travel through a couple of inches of snow without dialing 999 every 2 seconds.
The fact that the police, once the best force in the world, are caught up in this shows how far the rot is going.
We are talking about whether people have the right stuff to overcome obstacles, or whether they just give up and are too lazy to care.
This last few days have shown how low this country has come - yes Joe, very few of the decent people left.”
by Suzy, Brizzle
Friday, February 06 2009, 12:36PM
“Why do you think it's so important to drag yourself into work and potentially put others at risk by causing accidents? POLICE ADVICE IS TO ONLY TRAVEL IF ESSENTIAL! It's got nothing to do with being a "sissy", stop applying your standards to others, not everybody is a complete jobsworth! Why don't you continue to jog on?”
by Annie37, Bednminster
Friday, February 06 2009, 11:56AM
“*
How true Fred.
We are breeding a nation of little wimps with no backbone.
Can't imagine what these little sissys would have done against Hitler - start crying for their mummys ?”
by Fred, Stoke Bishop
Friday, February 06 2009, 11:55AM
“For God Sake !
Thank god we didn't have these people when we waz fighting the Nazis or we would all be living under the Jack boot now.
I came into Bristol city centre to work this morning - jogging most of the way - with absolutely no problems.”
by Tim, north bristol
Friday, February 06 2009, 11:29AM
“I arrived back in Bristol in June after 27 years in sunny South Africa, i was told by my mates 'we dont get winters like we use to it never snows' um im not so sure about their statements.”