Transport chaos as snow moves West
As the snow flurries begin to hit us in the West, there has been transport chaos as freezing conditions closer to London cause delays to train services leaving Bristol.
Although we managed to avoid the worst of the bad weather last night which brought other parts of the country to a standstill, the conditions are causing problems for commuters travelling by train to London Paddington.
First Great Western are advising customers not to travel unless necessary, as services between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington are partly suspended.
There is also a reduced service running from Swansea to London Paddington via Bristol Parkway.
Once the trains reach Reading, the services are being disrupted further due to the snow and freezing conditions between the station and London Paddington.
Bristol has seen several heavy snow showers so far today, and forecasters are predicting an accumulation of 1-2cm in some places.
More persistent and heavy snow are expected to reach us overnight and into tomorrow.
Rob Hutchinson, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said we might see up to 5cms of snow in the Bristol area.
He said: "On Tuesday there might be highs of 3 or 4C and some sunshine, but there will still be showers. I wouldn't be surprised if you see some snow flakes, but it's more likely to be sleet and wet snow."
Later in the week, it looks like it will remain cold with a risk of more snow at times.
The cold spell is due to Easterly winds from Russia and Eastern Europe, which is hitting the East and southeast England the hardest.
The Highways Agency's local fleet of salt spreaders, snow ploughs and snow blowers is on standby and the roads have been salted in anticipation of the bad weather.
But the Highways Agency's Rachel Whitelock said: "Just because we are treating the roads it does not mean that people can just drive as normal - you do need to take extra care.
"We would advice motorists to check forecasts before setting out and to pack food, water, a torch and a spade as well as some warm clothes."
South Gloucestershire Council has already used 4,000 tonnes of salt to grit roads in the district in what it said was a busy start to the year.
Mark King, head of street care, said it had two new weather stations that supplied information to help staff find out the real-time condition of roads, as well as the current and predicted weather.
Gritters were out ahead of the latest snow arriving, with drivers treating 300 miles of the roads for which the council has responsibility.
They included main roads, commuter routes and at least one route into every village or populated area.
Mr King said: "In doing so we deploy 12 gritting lorries and use approximately 80 tonnes of salt per run."
22 Comments
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by myself
Tuesday, June 21 2011, 9:09AM
“yada yada”
by cordelia, weston-super-mare
Tuesday, February 03 2009, 3:53PM
“Well really Bullbars, it is that kind of attitude causing the obesity problem in this country. If your kids had an emergency you'd expect there to be emergency services to help out, snow or not. Of course it's not always going to be possible to get places in this weather, the country is not prepared for it, but if you can't even be bothered to walk a short distance then what are you teaching those kids?”
by Snowman, bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 11:53PM
“Sorry Bradley Stoke is still and will always be known as Sadly Broke cant change that .”
by Bullbars, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 10:41PM
“In reply to Mendip man. Society has moved on, and we are ALL in cars these days. I wouldn't normally walk to most places, so why would I suddenly do it when snow stops me using my vehicle? Or expect my kids to.?”
by Jo, Shire
Monday, February 02 2009, 10:39PM
“GIVE US MORE!!!!!!! We don't get enough in Bristol.”
by Kingmidas1962, Sadly Broke no longer
Monday, February 02 2009, 10:18PM
“I must be one of the lucky ones with a community still alive and well (yes, even in Sadly Broke) the local kids have been out enjoying the snow this evening (knowing that its a rare phenomenon), making snowmen and having snowball fights - all ages from teens to toddlers having a great time - together. I seem to just be here to supply dry gloves and hot chocolate to the masses....”
by MendipMan, Wurzel Country
Monday, February 02 2009, 9:50PM
“So teachers might not be able to get to school and the school is closed.
How is it then that we don't close down hospitals because doctors and nurses can't get to work? They don't all live on site by any means.
The same applies to the emergency services.
Are the medics and emergency workers blessed with a secret formula that enables them to travel when teachers can't?”
by Elisa, Fishponds
Monday, February 02 2009, 9:50PM
“In response to Bristolian - and to all really... Yes, I was quite sad to hear some of the children weren't allowed to have snowball fights in the school playground - banned due to safety issues.... BUT - I run the Beaver Scout colony - and we abandoned our planned evening - went outside, they worked together to build a snowman (quite small) - and then everyone mucked in to have a snowball fight! The parents joined in when they arrived to collect the children as well!!!!”
by The Last Bristolian, Upper Knowle
Monday, February 02 2009, 8:24PM
“Interesting how our social linteraction has changed. Early 80's when we had a snowfall, there were snowball fights by local children in our terraced street. Fast forward 25 years to tonights snow, and I guess snowballing is parentally supervised in back gardens?
The street is silent.
The neighbourhood no longer has local shops as a focus of the community, since Tesco & then Sainsburys have opened ,and moved our groceries too far away to walk to. These days there is little foot traffic up and down this street, and as new neighbours have moved in, the opportunity for chances meets and" hello"s has dwindled.
The snow has forced some of my neighbours to walk tonight, they pass each other silently on the street. No communal glee is expressed about the snow. No greetings exchanged.
Welcome to carbound Upper Knowle 2009”
by Jeremy, Kingswood, Bristol
Monday, February 02 2009, 8:14PM
“Don't worry! BCC Councillors will come to the rescue! If anyone knows how to snarl up a perfectly good city, they do. And I mean all of them too. Not enough spark in the whole lot to light up a low energy light bulb. Someone come and put us all out of our misery. Democracy? Pah!”