Drivers warned to take care on the roads following snowfall
4:40pm Monday 21st January 2013 in News
@gazzahall68: Lydbrook Close off Spa Road .. Very snowy
GRITTERS were out in force today to keep Bolton’s streets safe but officials are warning drivers to beware of black ice.
Much snow has fallen today which has led to further school closures and worsening conditions on the road.
But a Met Office spokeswoman said the borough received less snow than the rest of the country due to its proximity to the Pennines leading some critics to accuse companies and schools of over-reacting.
Hundreds of people are said to have taken a snow day today. Attendances have fallen at companies across the borough which will have had economic ramifications. Others will have been forced to stay off work to look after their children.
The Met Office did not have figures for how much snow had fallen in the borough, but its closest monitoring station in North Staffordshire reported depths of 7cm.
The Met Office predicted light snowfall in Bolton today, between noon and 6pm, with temperatures expected to fall to -2C, and no more snow expected for the rest of the week with temperatures rising to a maximum of 1C tomorrow.
Cllr David Chadwick, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I’m pleased that our gritting teams have done a fantastic job over the weekend keeping all the main roads clear.
“They’ve been out in the evening and into the early hours just to make sure that the roads are safe.
“We’ve had a number of complimentary remarks on Twitter and the consensus is that they’ve done a fantastic job.”
He added: “The forecast was for a more substantial amount than we got, but that’s always the problem with snow and you just have to take what’s thrown at you.”
Cllr Chadwick said the council would be monitoring the situation using information from the Manchester Weather Centre and road-based sensors which monitor ground conditions.
Edmund King, president of the AA, warned of people driving so-called "snowman cars" by not clearing off the piles of snow on top of their vehicles before getting behind the wheel.
He said: "Drivers must clear the snow off their windscreens, lights and tops of their cars before setting out. This morning we have spotted lots of 'snowman cars', which are cars driving along with piles of snow on their tops.
"I saw one sports car this morning on the M3 with almost a snowman of its roof but the dangerous thing was that it was being followed by a motorcycle. The hardened snow could have been a real hazard, had it fallen off in the path of the motorcycle.
"We have also seen drivers peering out of small openings on their windscreen as if they were driving a tank. The other issue is the number of cars with their lights and indicators compacted with hardened snow.
"Drivers need to take a broom to clear excess snow off their vehicles before setting out."
He also advised motorists to stick to main roads where grit and extra traffic has helped keep the ice away.
Comments(60)
Hulton Park
says...
8:50am Mon 21 Jan 13
"The Met OFFice predicts light snowfall in Bolton today, between noon and 6pm."
Time to resort to that most reliable of weather indicators- look out of the window!
Lulu15
says...
9:09am Mon 21 Jan 13
georgethebrave
says...
9:14am Mon 21 Jan 13
georgethebrave
says...
9:14am Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon
says...
9:31am Mon 21 Jan 13
Lulu15 wrote:Tanners Brow is a small side road. Council is concentrating on main roads.
Didn't do a very good job on Tanners Brew; that stretch was lethal this morning!
Lulu15
says...
9:51am Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon wrote:Yeah, but something coming down may not stop at the lights. This junction at A6 is bad in good weather!!
Lulu15 wrote:Tanners Brow is a small side road. Council is concentrating on main roads.
Didn't do a very good job on Tanners Brew; that stretch was lethal this morning!
Rememberscarborough
says...
9:53am Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon
says...
10:05am Mon 21 Jan 13
Lulu15 wrote:Have you thought of contacting the Council to let them know the condition so they can maybe do something about it.
magic dragon wrote:Yeah, but something coming down may not stop at the lights. This junction at A6 is bad in good weather!!
Lulu15 wrote:Tanners Brow is a small side road. Council is concentrating on main roads.
Didn't do a very good job on Tanners Brew; that stretch was lethal this morning!
Maxine2
says...
10:07am Mon 21 Jan 13
Phil from Smithills
says...
10:15am Mon 21 Jan 13
macauley
says...
10:16am Mon 21 Jan 13
macauley
says...
10:16am Mon 21 Jan 13
saj70n
says...
10:21am Mon 21 Jan 13
MarkAllRead
says...
10:27am Mon 21 Jan 13
saj70n wrote:My brother works in a car bodyshop. He says business is booming with idiots who think they can drive faster than everyone else in this weather and then they find out why everyone was taking it easy.
ST. Peters way was clear but many drivers driving at 20 mph if you cant drive please stay at home
magic dragon
says...
10:50am Mon 21 Jan 13
Maxine2 wrote:couldn't agree more
I think the council have done a good job and they damned if they do and damned if they don't...If you live in a street go out as a community and clear the snow! Go and ask an elderly neighbour if they need any support and make a pathway for them..STOP MOANING AND GET ON WITH IT!! The snow is coming every year, we all need to except it and do our bit for our town....
Colinweb
says...
10:56am Mon 21 Jan 13
daveace
says...
12:16pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Paypwip
says...
12:20pm Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon wrote:Tanner's Brew *is* on the gritting route
Lulu15 wrote:Tanners Brow is a small side road. Council is concentrating on main roads.
Didn't do a very good job on Tanners Brew; that stretch was lethal this morning!
cliff4treasurer
says...
12:47pm Mon 21 Jan 13
It's called ability Mark,drive at less than 20 on a slippy road ok then alter your speed according to the road conditions,some people set off in there ungritted streets at a snails pace ,fair enough, then continue at a snails pace all the way to work.Driving along a clear (NO SNOW NO ICE) St Peters way included.
If you are frighetened of your car stay off the roads
aardwolf
says...
1:05pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Albinosupport
says...
1:17pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Albinosupport
says...
1:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13
aardwolf wrote:I agree, it says on this webpage 22% chance of snow!!!!
Brilliant work from the gritting team. Appalling work from the Met Office. As someone said there doesn't appear to be a forecast better than just looking out of your window,
ke1979
says...
1:50pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Colinweb wrote:Maybe its because she isn't called Colin ?
I Have a friend who lives in Canada she laughs at me when i show her our pictures and say our schools have closed Colin
Maxine2
says...
1:54pm Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon
says...
2:18pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Maxine2 wrote:Yes and I am one of the ones with no bin collection today, but I think clearing the snow must take priority. The Council are pulling out all the stops and the men driving the gritters are working as many hours as the EU regulations will allow.
The binmen who have not been out on the wagons today have been clearing snow in the town centre today, trying to keep the town moving, they are not sat idle twiddling their thumbs!
It's great to see that some of us can see the bigger picture and not just moan.
davoovad
says...
3:07pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Rememberscarborough
says...
3:31pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Count de Monet
says...
4:14pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Rememberscarborough wrote:EDF love snow & cold weather because they sell more electricity!
Davoovad - I'm impressed you can get politics in to the weather. Maybe the EDF are supporters of snow so we can blame them....
Marzi30
says...
4:58pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Angela1969
says...
5:12pm Mon 21 Jan 13
But I must admit the council workers have worked so hard to keep the roads clear ... Hats off to them ..well done lads and lasses !
davoovad
says...
5:14pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Rememberscarborough wrote:Who are the EDF ?
Davoovad - I'm impressed you can get politics in to the weather. Maybe the EDF are supporters of snow so we can blame them....
Angela1969
says...
5:17pm Mon 21 Jan 13
davoovad wrote:EDF energy ...gas and electric providers lol
Rememberscarborough wrote:Who are the EDF ?
Davoovad - I'm impressed you can get politics in to the weather. Maybe the EDF are supporters of snow so we can blame them....
Angela1969
says...
5:17pm Mon 21 Jan 13
davoovad wrote:EDF energy ...gas and electric providers lol
Rememberscarborough wrote:Who are the EDF ?
Davoovad - I'm impressed you can get politics in to the weather. Maybe the EDF are supporters of snow so we can blame them....
davoovad
says...
5:22pm Mon 21 Jan 13
davoovad wrote:Oh you mean the EDL, or you could have said BNP or even Combat18 .
Rememberscarborough wrote:Who are the EDF ?
Davoovad - I'm impressed you can get politics in to the weather. Maybe the EDF are supporters of snow so we can blame them....
Rememberscarborough
says...
7:16pm Mon 21 Jan 13
ohboltonweloveu
says...
7:17pm Mon 21 Jan 13
click & paste this in your browser and see a good council road clearing job... SEE BELOW
... could this ever be belmont in the future of bolton gritters... ERRRRR nope ... just love the pics of boltons pathetic dusting dusting then this pic ...
Have a look ......
http://www.sadacanad
a.com/amazing-paths-
and-roads/awesome-cu
rved-snow-road-amazi
ng-paths-and-roads-p
ictures
ohboltonweloveu
says...
7:19pm Mon 21 Jan 13
a.com/amazing-paths-
and-roads/awesome-cu
rved-snow-road-amazi
ng-paths-and-roads-p
ictures
ohboltonweloveu
says...
7:29pm Mon 21 Jan 13
BWFC71
says...
7:50pm Mon 21 Jan 13
ohboltonweloveu wrote:Never has and never will be Belmont being gritted by Bolton!!!!
readers of bolton,,,,
click & paste this in your browser and see a good council road clearing job... SEE BELOW
... could this ever be belmont in the future of bolton gritters... ERRRRR nope ... just love the pics of boltons pathetic dusting dusting then this pic ...
Have a look ......
http://www.sadacanad
a.com/amazing-paths-
and-roads/awesome-cu
rved-snow-road-amazi
ng-paths-and-roads-p
ictures
Belmont came under Turton until 1974 and currently it is part of Blackburn With Darwen and the inbetween period was under Lancashire County Council (which we weren't!)
RIPPEDOFFTAXPAYER
says...
7:51pm Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon wrote:What you are saying is that the council has done the job it is paid with taxpayer money to do what is so fantastic about that? Many people have to work through this "minor"snowfall.
The Council has done a fantastic job considering the present circumstances regarding job cuts and budget restraints. Maybe we can all do our bit by clearing the snow in front of our homes thereby enabling the side streets we live in to be safer and taking some of the burden off the hard working Council workers. Well done lads.
BWFC71
says...
7:55pm Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon wrote:Isn't it "normal" practice to sign the waver about the working hours directive so that people can act like slves to their employers to earn a little extra money just for it to be taxed even more!!!!
Maxine2 wrote:Yes and I am one of the ones with no bin collection today, but I think clearing the snow must take priority. The Council are pulling out all the stops and the men driving the gritters are working as many hours as the EU regulations will allow.
The binmen who have not been out on the wagons today have been clearing snow in the town centre today, trying to keep the town moving, they are not sat idle twiddling their thumbs!
It's great to see that some of us can see the bigger picture and not just moan.
I would never sign the waver as its my perogative that I want to work less than 48 hours in a week and have a life outside work and be taxed normally without extra earnings being taxed even more.....
Meanwhile back on topic - the council workers are not enslaved to one party or another as they are just workers and they ahve done a cracking job, so far but they do need to concentrate on making sure bus routes are clear, as well as main roads!!!!
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
8:48pm Mon 21 Jan 13
magic dragon
says...
9:00am Tue 22 Jan 13
ALI MINIUM KHAN wrote:More ridiculous comments. The Eu dictates that anyone working as a professional driver is only allowed to drive for a maximum of 9hrs per day with a rest period of 11 hrs, The workers who were going home before dinner had been out all night doing their job. Where you sat at home taking notes just so you could complain? The reason they are not out gritting footpaths and side streets is that they are out in the most dangerous areas clearing and gritting by hand where a gritter will not go. e.g. Sheltered housing, dangerous road junctions, high volume pedestrian areas etc. I assume you live near the Council yard? well the area in front of your house must be all of 3feet x 10feet. Maybe it would have been more constructive had you helped the overworked Council workers by clearing the pavement out side your own home as we did when Local people took pride in the town they lived in.
council workers worked so hard on SUNDAY AND DOUBLE PAY, then today they all had the day off with pay, i saw at least 8 council workers today getting out of cars and going home before dinner, this is bull **** my bins not been emptied again, why are they all not out gritting footpaths and side streets by hand with shovels, **** u bolton council
Also as much as we would like it, the weather doesn't work a mon to fri week and if the workers get paid extra for giving up their family time, then they deserve it.
Jenny_Taylia
says...
1:34pm Tue 22 Jan 13
ke1979 wrote:Ha Ha!!! Brilliant!!
Colinweb wrote:Maybe its because she isn't called Colin ?
I Have a friend who lives in Canada she laughs at me when i show her our pictures and say our schools have closed Colin
boltonnut
says...
1:57pm Tue 22 Jan 13
hers got paid to take a day off work,thats enjoyable.Truth be known I bet even cllr.Morris even enjoyed it, no work today,as usual.
BOLTON&PROUD
says...
2:02pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Beyond News Forum
says...
7:14pm Tue 22 Jan 13
daveace wrote:If you are commenting on aardwolf's ridiculous comment... you need to know that you are probably talking to a council shill.
Gritters have done a fantastic job my elbow I set off for work at half 4 this morning and there hadn't been a single one round Horwich
Having said that the torn up surfaces all over Bolton do a good job of gritting themselves with loose chippings.
More loose chippings signs please Mr. Morris. Oops no chance of that.
Beyond News Forum
says...
7:16pm Tue 22 Jan 13
davoovad wrote:Note: Shills are everywhere. Especially the paid ones.
Ha Ha , lots of Labour voters on here sticking up for the council !
judyben
says...
9:56pm Tue 22 Jan 13
Rememberscarborough wrote:Parked cars down top end of New Hall Lane make it impossible to see traffic coming up and down that road .Easing out of side roads blind is the only option sometimes. Some people use it as a cut through to the Old and New roads and drive far too fast. So take care! (It wasn't me by the way!!) :-)
Still remember a couple of years ago when they didn't clear Moss Bank Way because it wasn't a "major" road! Looks like the council is learning unlike the idiot who pulled out in front of me on New Hall Lane this morning. ABS is a wonderful invention....
judyben
says...
10:00pm Tue 22 Jan 13
magic dragon wrote:Agreed. These will also be the workers whose pay was cut a few years ago.
ALI MINIUM KHAN wrote:More ridiculous comments. The Eu dictates that anyone working as a professional driver is only allowed to drive for a maximum of 9hrs per day with a rest period of 11 hrs, The workers who were going home before dinner had been out all night doing their job. Where you sat at home taking notes just so you could complain? The reason they are not out gritting footpaths and side streets is that they are out in the most dangerous areas clearing and gritting by hand where a gritter will not go. e.g. Sheltered housing, dangerous road junctions, high volume pedestrian areas etc. I assume you live near the Council yard? well the area in front of your house must be all of 3feet x 10feet. Maybe it would have been more constructive had you helped the overworked Council workers by clearing the pavement out side your own home as we did when Local people took pride in the town they lived in.
council workers worked so hard on SUNDAY AND DOUBLE PAY, then today they all had the day off with pay, i saw at least 8 council workers today getting out of cars and going home before dinner, this is bull **** my bins not been emptied again, why are they all not out gritting footpaths and side streets by hand with shovels, **** u bolton council
Also as much as we would like it, the weather doesn't work a mon to fri week and if the workers get paid extra for giving up their family time, then they deserve it.
macauley
says...
10:02pm Tue 22 Jan 13
BOLTON&PROUD wrote:rubbish.
I think the council has overall coped well with the conditions but, on the downside (and the council now being a victim of how well the roads have been gritted), i dont understand why the bin collections have been cancelled - they could at least have taken them from the main/gritted roads which presumably would make their task next week easier ??
judyben
says...
11:31am Wed 23 Jan 13
BWFC71 wrote:Sopt on.
magic dragon wrote:Isn't it "normal" practice to sign the waver about the working hours directive so that people can act like slves to their employers to earn a little extra money just for it to be taxed even more!!!!
Maxine2 wrote:Yes and I am one of the ones with no bin collection today, but I think clearing the snow must take priority. The Council are pulling out all the stops and the men driving the gritters are working as many hours as the EU regulations will allow.
The binmen who have not been out on the wagons today have been clearing snow in the town centre today, trying to keep the town moving, they are not sat idle twiddling their thumbs!
It's great to see that some of us can see the bigger picture and not just moan.
I would never sign the waver as its my perogative that I want to work less than 48 hours in a week and have a life outside work and be taxed normally without extra earnings being taxed even more.....
Meanwhile back on topic - the council workers are not enslaved to one party or another as they are just workers and they ahve done a cracking job, so far but they do need to concentrate on making sure bus routes are clear, as well as main roads!!!!
judyben
says...
11:32am Wed 23 Jan 13
Beyond News Forum
says...
10:59am Fri 25 Jan 13
Are my eyes deceiving me?
Clearly we are in for a torrid time over the next couple of hours with every weather outlet suggesting up to 5cm of snow in the Bolton area.
We have an 'Amber' alert on that crazy MET OFFICE radar.
I'm totally baffled!
I suggest the BN get a hold of the much better and more truthful weather widget over at weather.com
Beyond News Forum
says...
11:04am Fri 25 Jan 13
http://www.metoffice
.gov.uk/weather/uk/u
k_forecast_warnings.
html
Weather.com
FURTHER SNOWFALL WILL SPREAD FROM THE WEST, AS ANOTHER WEATHER FRONT MOVES EASTWARDS ACROSS THE UK. SNOW WILL REACH PARTS OF SCOTLAND DURING FRIDAY MORNING, AND EASTERN PARTS OF ENGLAND DURING THE LATE EVENING, LIKELY TO CLEAR THESE EASTERN AREAS BY THE EARLY HOURS OF SATURDAY. 4 TO 8 CM IS LIKELY QUITE WIDELY WITHIN THE AMBER WARNING AREA, WITH A LOW RISK OF MORE THAN 10 CM LOCALLY EVEN ON LOWER GROUND. FURTHER NORTH, ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 CM MAY OCCUR IN SOME UPLAND AREAS. STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO LEAD TO DRIFTING AND BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY OVER HIGHER LEVEL ROADS IN THE NORTH.
THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR LIKELY DISRUPTION, PARTICULARLY TO TRAVEL.
ISSUED BY THE MET OFFICE AT 12:33 ON THURSDAY, 24TH JANUARY 2013
VALID FROM 11:00 ON FRIDAY, 25TH JANUARY 2013
UNTIL 02:00 ON SATURDAY, 26TH JANUARY 2013
FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE GO TO:
HTTP://WWW.METOFFICE
.GOV.UK/PUBLIC/WEATH
ER/WARNINGS
ALI MINIUM KHAN
says...
8:51pm Fri 25 Jan 13
judyben wrote:I am gardener and have 100+ gardens, i have cleared all the garden paths and drives and am going off the comments of every single customer i have, whom have not been out of the house for a week because the footpaths to the bus stops have not been gritted, simple solution is to use the little road sweepers with grit trailers on the back, i have seen them about, last week.
magic dragon wrote:Agreed. These will also be the workers whose pay was cut a few years ago.
ALI MINIUM KHAN wrote:More ridiculous comments. The Eu dictates that anyone working as a professional driver is only allowed to drive for a maximum of 9hrs per day with a rest period of 11 hrs, The workers who were going home before dinner had been out all night doing their job. Where you sat at home taking notes just so you could complain? The reason they are not out gritting footpaths and side streets is that they are out in the most dangerous areas clearing and gritting by hand where a gritter will not go. e.g. Sheltered housing, dangerous road junctions, high volume pedestrian areas etc. I assume you live near the Council yard? well the area in front of your house must be all of 3feet x 10feet. Maybe it would have been more constructive had you helped the overworked Council workers by clearing the pavement out side your own home as we did when Local people took pride in the town they lived in.
council workers worked so hard on SUNDAY AND DOUBLE PAY, then today they all had the day off with pay, i saw at least 8 council workers today getting out of cars and going home before dinner, this is bull **** my bins not been emptied again, why are they all not out gritting footpaths and side streets by hand with shovels, **** u bolton council
Also as much as we would like it, the weather doesn't work a mon to fri week and if the workers get paid extra for giving up their family time, then they deserve it.
judyben
says...
3:47pm Sat 26 Jan 13
ohboltonweloveu
says...
8:57pm Sun 27 Jan 13
i saw 3 griters ,,no ploughs used .in Deep snow . you set of bone heads...did you witness all the abondoned cars ,,, i did driving on them Dangerous roads at 5am ....yes some people still have to go to work the next day ..
your boss should be sacked by 5pm monday ,,, the idiot ..
seriously how many times do you need to Learn how to cope ?
ohboltonweloveu
says...
9:07pm Sun 27 Jan 13
judyben wrote:i agree, but bolton council decided to invest half a millon into the Food waste kitchen caddy !!! what a load of sh!t !!!!! ( does anyone actually use or used it yet ? ) infact ,, if we all fill our little black bin with rocksalt.......
Tell me about it Aluminium Khan! I think your idea about the little roadsweepers would be great but it won't happen . Too many roads to clear and not enough men, time or money. We will all have to grit our teeth and keep an eye on vulnerable people who are our neighbours. Let's hope it will melt soon for your business and everybody's sake!
magic dragon says...
8:50am Mon 21 Jan 13