Heavy snow and ice causes chaos across Cumbria

Last updated 10:54, Wednesday, 03 December 2008

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Snow, ice and rain created treacherous conditions across Cumbria today – but forecasters warned the worst is still to come.

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This morning police were asking motorists to only drive if it was necessary because conditions on many roads were dangerous, with three-times as many accidents reported across the county today as yesterday.

Problems emerged after temperatures reached as low as -5C on higher ground during the night.

Police officers said they had reports of 16 minor road accidents across Copeland and Allerdale since midnight.

They added that between 1am and 8.45am incidents had been reported to police from Moor Row, Cleator, Broughton Moor, Muncaster and Bassenthwaite.

There were also incidents at Egremont, Frizington, Keswick, Cockermouth, Seaton, Maryport, and Ravenglass and Bigrigg in the early hours.

A police spokesman said this morning there have been 39 incidents across the county.

He said: “There has been significantly more today than normally.”

Detective Inspector Cliff Walker said that the accidents were mostly minor bumps from cars hitting others. He added: “It is due to the weather, it has been treacherous.”

Cumbria County Council deployed 27 gritters out on to the highways this morning - 11 in the east, nine in the south and seven in the west.

A spokesman said: “These are on priority one and two roads and, as resources allow, we'll move out to the smaller roads, concentrating on more densely populated areas that haven't been gritted yet.”

In the west, conditions are under control; in the east there is lots of snow, especially around the Penrith area; and in the south there is freezing fog which is keeping temperatures down.

In Allerdale, the council warned some of its services would be affected by the frosty conditions.

Due to the temperatures dropping below freezing point, several public toilets which are owned and maintained by the council have had to be closed for safety reasons.

However, the following public toilets will remain open:

Aspatria, Queen Street

Cockermouth, Main Street

Keswick: Banks Court; Central Car Park and Theatre by the Lake

Skinburness, Silloth

Wigton Local Links Customer Service Centre

Workington town centre

A spokesman said: “The council is liaising with Cumbria Highways and will not deploy its road sweeping vehicles if roads have been gritted, so as not to sweep up the grit needed to thaw out icy driving conditions.

“In addition, some residents may find that their wheelie bins for recycling garden waste have broken after becoming brittle in the severe temperatures. Allerdale Borough Council would like to assure residents that it is taking steps to replace any wheelie bins damaged in this way.”

In north Cumbria a number of schools were forced to close, partly because pupils due to travel to them by bus were unable to get there.

Snow fell on higher ground, affecting places such as Brampton. In parts of Carlisle there appeared to be a dusting of snow sitting on top of ice.

Inspector Ann Hodgson said: “Police are advising motorist to drive with care due to treacherous road conditions. Snow and ice is affecting the whole county.”

If drivers had to use the roads, they were urged to allow extra time for their journeys.

Most of the collisions were described as “minor bumps” with cars colliding with other vehicles. The trans-Pennine A66 was closed for a time at Brough because of the snowfall.

Some forecasters have predicted that Britain is set for an arctic blast today with snow showers set to sweep the country.

A band of wintry showers is predicted to start in Scotland and the north of England this morning, working their way southwards through the day.

About an inch of snow is expected in the north of England today, with sleet and rain more likely in the south, according to MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association.

And while many struggled with the wintry conditions this morning, a Met Office spokeswoman warned they could worsen this week.

She said: “Tomorrow night looks pretty awful, with snow coming in around midnight and strong southerly winds to go with that.”

On conditions today, she added: “Almost everywhere in Cumbria we’ve had snow at some point during the night.

“Obviously we do get cold weather in December, but -1.1C is the usual minimum so it is colder than we would expect for this time of year.”

Most snow fell in the county at about 3am with 3cms recorded at the Spadeadam observation point.

Temperatures today are expected to rise to about 2-3C.

It is expected to be frosty again tonight – with temperatures dipping to as low as between -3 to -5C – before fine conditions during the day tomorrow.

Meanwhile, traffic on the southbound A74 was slow-moving as work continued on the upgrade of the Cumberland Gap.

Traffic was down to one lane between Metal Bridge and Carlisle as construction of the M6 extension neared completion.

Traffic began to slow from Gretna.

Delays were also reported in the Caldewgate area of Carlisle.

Anyone with queries about road conditions or closures, is urged to call the Highways Agency hotline – 0845 609 6609.

For further information on council services contact Allerdale council’s Customer Service Centre on 01900 702702 or email: customer.service@allerdale.gov.uk

Temperatures plummeted to -11 degrees C in parts of Cumbria over the weekend, making it one of the coldest snaps of the year.

Landscapes were dusted with frost and snow and a freezing fog made for treacherous driving conditions on Saturday and Sunday.

Freezing temperatures forced the closure of a race meeting at Carlisle Racecourse on Sunday.

The jumps meeting had to be abandoned because of frost. Officials say they were left with no option after an overnight temperature of minus five.

Clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch said: “It got down to minus five overnight and it was not going to really warm up, and we also had fog as well.”

Tomorrow and Thursday could see more wintry showers and high winds with more fog expected on Friday.