Archived News - Snow
Gritting and salt stock update: Thursday 14 January
Although there have been no more snow flurries, Highways crews were out gritting last night to prepare the roads for this morning's rush hour. We still have just under 600 tonnes in stock - roughly enough for eight more days of gritting just the A and B roads, as Government is still restricting our salt deliveries due to the national demand for salt.
Councillor David McVicar, Central Bedfordshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "Although Highway crews will be out clearing footways in town centres and areas outside of schools we would like to remind local road users that Central Bedfordshire Council has a number of salt bins available for the public to use. These can be found at known trouble spots such as sharp bends, steep hills and junctions which are on roads that are not covered by the 'priority one' salting network. However, if any member of the public would like to request a bin for an area they believe is particularly bad, then please put requests all through the Highways Helpdesk (0300 300 8049). Teams will need to decide each case on an individual basis, taking in to account whether it is a priority for pedestrians in that area."
"Our crews continue to monitor the forecast and gritting the network on key routes to help keep traffic moving. I would like to reassure road users that Central Bedfordshire Council is doing everything it can to help keep traffic flowing on key routes."
Further gritting updates will be issued throughout the day.
Please visit our website homepage www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further updates on all services which have been affected by the snow.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further travel information on major routes and motorways.
Visit the met office for the latest forecast at www.themetoffice.org.uk.
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 14th January 2010
Gritting and salt stock update: Wednesday 13 January
Highways crews were out gritting from 4am this morning, Wednesday 13 January, as more snow has fallen throughout the night. Although we received a delivery yesterday, and have around 600 tonnes in stock - roughly enough for up to 18 more runs, we are still only able to grit just A and B roads as Government continues to restrict our salt deliveries.
Councillor David McVicar, Central Bedfordshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "As more snow has fallen throughout the night, and continues to fall his morning, our Highways crews have been out gritting A and B roads to prepare for this morning's rush hour. Crews will also be out today refilling salt bins, clearing footways in town centres and areas outside of schools.
"Our crews are still working day and night monitoring the forecast and gritting the network on key routes to help keep traffic moving. I would like to reassure road users that Central Bedfordshire Council is doing everything it can to help keep traffic flowing on key routes."
Further gritting updates will be issued throughout the day.
Please visit our website homepage www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further updates on all services which have been affected by the snow.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further travel information on major routes and motorways.
Visit the met office for the latest forecast at www.themetoffice.org.uk.
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 13th January 2010
Gritting and salt stock update: Monday 12 January
Government still continues to nationally monitor salt supplies and manage which areas are of the highest priority to receive salt deliveries first in the UK, so we are still being forced to only grit A and B roads in Central Bedfordshire.
As the snow gradually starts to clear our Highways crews continue to be on standby in the event of more snow flurries, and were out gritting yesterday on A and B roads. Highways Teams are closely monitoring the forecast and still conserving salt stocks, as although we received a delivery of 200 tonnes yesterday, we still only have around 500 tonnes in stock, enough for six more days worth of gritting just on the A and B roads.
Councillor David McVicar, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "As the snow starts to melt road conditions have improved but drivers still need to take extra care on some of the minor roads where it is still icy. Our crews are on standby and monitoring the forecast closely and yesterday were out spot gritting problem areas, refilling salt bins, and clearing areas outside of schools." "Our crews are still working day and night to help keep traffic moving on all major roads, and I would like to reassure road users that Central Bedfordshire Council is doing everything it can to help keep traffic flowing on key routes."
Further gritting updates will be issued throughout the day.
Please visit our website homepage www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further updates on all services which have been affected by the snow.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further travel information on major routes and motorways.
Visit the met office for the latest forecast at www.themetoffice.org.uk.
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 12th January 2010
Gritting and Salt Stock Update: Sunday 10 January
Government still continues to nationally monitor salt supplies and manage which areas are of the highest priority to receive salt deliveries first, so we are still being forced to carry out reduced gritting runs and only able to salt A and B roads in Central Bedfordshire.
With more snow flurries expected today, Sunday 10 January, our Highways team will continue to monitor the forecast, and dispatch crews to grit all A and B roads when necessary. Spot gritting will be carried out on badly affected areas on the A and B network throughout the day.
Yesterday, Saturday 9 January, our Highways crews carried out a gritting runs on all A and B roads at around 7:00am and 4:00pm, with spot gritting carried out at during the day in badly affected areas.
We still only have approximately 360 tonnes of salt in stock, which is roughly enough for 7/8 more runs, and although we received a delivery yesterday of around 60 tonnes, we still need to conserve our salt stock and carry out a reduced gritting run, focussing on just the A and B network.
Councillor David McVicar, Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: " As we enter a new week it still looks likely that the cold weather is set to continue and with more snow flurries forecast today, Sunday 10 January, we still need to closely monitor salt stocks. Our Highways crews carried out two full gritting runs on all A and B roads yesterday, Saturday 9 January, and spot gritting on badly affected areas, and will be carrying out runs on A and B roads during today. Our crews are still working round the clock to help keep traffic moving on all major roads, and I would like to reassure road users that Central Bedfordshire Council is doing everything it can to help keep traffic flowing on key routes.
"With Government still monitoring all national salt supplies we are still forced to only grit the A and B roads. Throughout the last week we have also been attending badly affected areas in town centres and replenishing salt bins but people really do need to take extra care on the roads and footways over the weekend and please follow our safety advice for when driving in snow, fog and ice."
Further gritting updates will be issued throughout the weekend.
Please visit our website homepage www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further updates on all services which have been affected by the snow.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further travel information on major routes and motorways.
Visit the met office for the latest forecast at www.themetoffice.org.uk.
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 10th January 2010
Gritting and Salt Stock Update: Friday 8 January
As it has been confirmed that Government is nationally monitoring salt suppliers and managing which areas are of the highest priority to receive salt deliveries first, we are still on reduced gritting runs and are currently only able to salt the A and B roads.
Due to the continuing icy conditions and with more snow forecast for the weekend, Bedfordshire Highways today, 8 January, will continue to carry out 'spot gritting' on badly affected areas on A and B roads, and crews will also be manually treating footways and pedestrian areas in town centres.
Although we sent five lorries to our supplier to collect salt at the beginning of the week and also received four salt deliveries from our suppliers on Wednesday, we are still forced to reduce our gritting runs to just A and B roads, due to a national demand for salt. We currently have approximately 400 tonnes of salt in stock which is enough for around roughly nine more runs on the A and B network.
With such a huge demand for salt throughout the country we are unsure when any of our 3000 tonnes, which is currently on order, will be delivered, so we are monitoring both our salt stocks and the weather forecast closely throughout the next few days, and we hope a normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
Councillor David McVicar, Central Bedfordshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, said: "We appreciate road conditions are going to continue to worsen as the icy conditions, the coldest spell in 15 years, is set to continue. I would like to reassure road users that Bedfordshire Highways crews are working round the clock to ensure they can keep traffic moving as much as possible on the network, but regrettably have been forced to limit gritting runs to just A and B roads.
"Nationally there is a demand in salt so our neighbouring authorities are also in a similar situation. We will be attending badly affected areas with our gritters, and manually salting pedestrian areas in town centres and replenishing salt bins as much as possible. People really do need to take extra care on the roads and footways over the weekend and please follow our safety advice for when driving in snow, fog and ice."
Further gritting information will be issued throughout the day.
Please visit our website homepage www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk for further updates on all services which have been affected by the snow.
Visit www.highways.gov.uk for further travel information on major routes and motorways.
Visit the met office for the latest forecast at www.themetoffice.org.uk.
Safe driving information for motorists:
Advice around gritters:
- Advice states to take care around gritters
- Don't be tempted to overtake
- Slow down
- It can take 10 times longer to stop in snowy or icy conditions, so allow extra room
- Winter Gritting is a 24 hour operation.
Check your vehicles for:
- Correct tyre tread depths and pressures. Don't forget the spare!
- Lights that are working and are clean
- The correct level of antifreeze. A garage can check this for you
- Wiper blades that are in good condition
- A windscreen washer bottle that contains an additive to prevent freezing
- A battery that is in good condition. Winter driving will make extra demands on your battery
Before driving off:
- Check the weather conditions both for your outward journey and any return
- Plan your route and leave in plenty of time. Even consider whether your journey is essential
Remember:
- Speed kills. Do not travel too fast. Cut your speed in possible icy conditions.
- It is far safer to travel a little further on a salted road than to use untreated roads
- Keep your distance - it takes much longer to stop in ice and snow than normal conditions
- Try to anticipate the actions of other drivers
- Avoid harsh acceleration, steering or braking
- Keep in as high as gear as possible
- Allow more time for your journey
- Consider whether your journey is necessary
And finally...
- It is down to the road user to drive according to the prevailing conditions
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 8th January 2010
School Closure Update: 08 January 2010
Central Bedfordshire Council's School Support Team have now been informed that 22 schools are closed across the area today.
Eaton Bray Lower School is currently Open.
School Transport to all the closed schools has also been cancelled.
Full details of which schools are open and closed can be found at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/snow.
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 8th January 2010
Bus Service disruption due to further Snow
Update for Friday 6 February 2009
Arriva anticipate that the adverse weather conditions will again affect services in some areas. Buses will not be able use roads that haven't been gritted and in some severely affected areas of the UK buses may not be able to operate.
Please check with your local customer services team by calling 0844 800 44 11 regarding individual local bus services. Please be patient as lines are very busy. Arriva appreciate your understanding and will answer your call as soon as possible.
Update 6-Feb-09: It has just been confirmed that Grant Palmer and Arriva have suspended all bus services in Bedfordshire due to severe weather.
Source: Arriva website
Snow closes schools again
Due to the heavy snow overnight, Eaton Bray Lower School will be closed again today (5th February 2009).
Update 6-Feb-09: Eaton Bray Lower closed today as well.
Kansas City reports on snow in Eaton Bray
Snow chaos across the pond in the UK
By Larry Marsh, Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist 2009
London slides to a halt with 10" snowfall. The prudent stay home. The brave spin their wheels. Businesses and schools close. The kids are lovin' it!
London Mayor Boris Johnson suspends the congestion charge for one day. I suppose with all that snow on the cars, the cameras probably can't read the license plates anyway.
Cousin Richard up in Eaton Bray is frustrated with all those young people driving very, very slowly. I guess old-timers like Richard remember the driving skills they learned 18 years ago in their last big snowfall.
Maura in Brighton on the coast reports "swimming in the snow." I don't know quite what she's doing, but it sounds cold!
As if the financial freeze was not enough, with snowploughs few and far between, it may take the Brits a while to dig themselves out of this one.
Source: Midwest Voices
Snow forces schools to close
Lessons in tobogganing and snowballing will be on the cards today and tomorrow (2nd/3rd February 2009) after school closures were announced across the Dunstable and Houghton Regis areas, including Eaton Bray Lower School due to the severe weather conditions.
Source: Dunstable Today