SNOW and freezing temperatures returned to Bridgnorth with a vengeance yesterday morning as schools shut for the second time in the week and people struggled to work.
Motorists abandoned their cars on steep hills, including the tortuous Shatterford Bank on the Kidderminster road and were waiting for the afternoon for it to be gritted and salted. Other drivers struggled to emerge from their driveways and side streets onto the slushy main road networks.
At least eight centimetres of snow lay on the ground in Bridgnorth and snow showers continued yesterday.
Police advised drivers not to travel unless it was absolutely necessary because of the treacherous conditions.
“Our gritters were out at 4am to grit all A and B routes in the Bridgnorth area,” said Richard Suggett, Shropshire County Council’s co-ordination manager for South Shropshire, yesterday morning “All roads are passable with care and our gritters are going out again this morning (Thursday) to further ensure that the roads remain open.
“Following this, we will be starting to grit the more minor roads leading into the smaller villages,” added Mr Suggett.
The county council currently has enough stock for current needs, but Paul Smart, Shirehall’s programme and contracts manager, said the situation could change if there was a prolonged period of snow beyond the current forecast.
“Nationally, the salt suppliers cannot produce enough salt to meet demand. The Highways Agency is controlling who the salt is distributed to and they have advised us that we will not be receiving any more salt this week,” added Mr
Smart.
The Arctic conditions, however, failed to prevent many employees reaching their destination. Novelis, on Stourbridge road – the town’s biggest employer with about a workforce of about 300 – reported that about 90 per cent of people had got to work.
A spokesman said the situation had been similar on Monday morning when residents woke to the first blanket of snow.
The weather even forced the cancellation of a planning appeal at the district council offices on Monday.
A Government inspector had been due to preside at a hearing into plans to build four homes following the demolition of the gymnasium at the back of Bishop Percy’s House in Cartway.
Bosses at Veolia Environmental Services said refuse collectors were out and about yesterday and doing as much as they could although many people in the Bridgnorth area did not have their rubbish collected yesterday.
Catherine Slaytor, of Veolia, said that where they had been unable to get to people’s properties, arrangements would be made for a collection tomorrow.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received 97 999 calls on Monday and revealed that almost a quarter (24 equating to 24.7 per cent) were due to falls in the appalling conditions.
