Roads jammed as city rush hour comes to a halt
2.55pm UPDATE: Reports of snow falling in the Bath area on Twitter. No problems for treated roads at this stage.
2.40pm UPDATE; BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson tweets: "Temperature profile increasingly conducive to snow in Bristol area & especially by rush-hour/eve as heavier rates likely."
9.17am UPDATE: Roads in and out of Bath were paralysed today as more drivers ventured out after the snow of the last few days.
While the snow itself caused few new problems, the return to normal levels of traffic led to long delays on the A4 at Keynsham and the A367 through Peasedown St John and Odd Down.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
There was also a minor crash on the Batheaston Bypass, which led to queues coming into Bath, while on the A37 at Clutton, faulty traffic lights caused ten-mile tailbacks.
A light dusting of new snow coated cars and pavements in Bath this morning.
But long-standing ice on pavements and side streets around the city, especially in Odd Down, Fairfield Park, Snow Hill, Larkhall and Bathampton, was still causing problems.
All the city’s schools were also expected to open today.
First bus services were largely running normally, with the 4 to Bathampton diverted via Down Lane.
B&NES Council gritters went out on a salting run at 3am, and have now spread 500 tonnes of salt since Friday over 2,500 miles of highway.
The authority said the new snow had not stuck to road surfaces, but warned that patches of black ice remained.
B&NES is due to receive a delivery of 1,000 tonnes of salt today to replenish its stocks.
Yesterday it filled empty roadside grit bins with a total of ten tonnes of salt.
The council’s refuse crews were out yesterday but were unable to safely reach many side streets, leaving rubbish to be picked up on their next visit in a week’s time.
The quickest and most direct way of alerting B&NES to problems - including empty grit bins - is via Twitter: @ccbathnes, the website www.bathnes.gov.uk/reportit, texting 07797806545, emailing councilconnect@bathnes.gov.uk or ringing 01225 39 40 41.
7 Comments
by jezer
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 6:45PM
“Why doesn't the council just clear the pavements and cycle ways and leave the roads alone? Are they afraid of litigation from motorists who can't drive according to the conditions?”
by JoshDuck
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 3:53PM
“We pay enough Tax already without adding silly costs such as this that is an inconvenience once a year if that”
by Imp-Act
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 3:30PM
“dogman2010 it seems your barking up the wrong tree! The reason the city is cleared is because it's a communal gathering area where as the suberbs are not. SO just clear the snow from the pavement outside of your house. It's NO big deal! It's a good workout! IF you'd like the city to do it for you then expect to pay even MORE tax!”
by wheelie_bin
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 1:14PM
“It's warmer in town and thaws quicker - maybe the council didn't need to do anything. Up here in Odd Down the "light dusting" was about an inch thick at 5.00 am. Those chronicle reporters have it easy down there.”
by BV_BV
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 11:30AM
“I think it used to be called community spirit. I'm not 100% sure that the council did clear the pavements in the centre but they were certainly clear yesterday evening when I was down in town. The pavement on Lansdown Hill was not cleared.”
by dogman2010
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 11:16AM
“let look at this thing about the council presources ,how come they do the pavements if you live in the town centre but people not live there has to help them, on your bike mate . i pay my tax so do some thing for the rest of us.”
by BV_BV
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 9:54AM
“Long standing ice on pavements is only there because householders don't sweep it away when it is fresh snow. Even if the snow has been walked on, it doesn't take a lot of effort with a spade or shovel to move the ice which breaks up very easily. A lot of people clearing a small amount of snow or ice would have a huge effect. Apart from the centre of Bath, the council won't use their precious resources of salt on pavements.”