Big freeze causes travel chaos in Wee County

Jamie MacDonald • Published 30 Dec 2009 12:41 10 Comments

RESIDENTS of Clackmannanshire woke up to a white Christmas on Friday morning after last week's big freeze.

Winter wonderland scenes in the county were labelled as the worst driving conditions for 20 years and the best sledging in ages.

Clackmannanshire Council gritters were out in force from 5am on Wednesday, when the snow was at its heaviest.

Main routes were prioritised in an attempt to keep traffic flowing although the Clackmannanshire Bridge was closed by police for around half an hour before 9am. Lorries heading over the crossing towards Clackmannanshire experienced difficulties with the incline towards the Gartarry Roundabout.

Councillor Eddie Carrick, Sustainability Portfolio Holder, said, "The council's seven gritters have been out gritting and ploughing the priority routes.

"They are backed up by eight squads in lorries who are filling grit bins and clearing footpaths.

"There are also nine tractors who are treating and clearing the priority paths."

Mr Carrick added, "Main roads, including service bus routes and routes to schools, are given priority treatment. These are followed by major secondary routes which include spine roads into housing and industrial areas and some rural roads.

"Like roads, paths are categorised into priority routes, with priority given to footways which carry the greatest numbers of pedestrians. These are generally in town centres and where other medical or community facilities, including residential homes for the elderly, are located."

Some refuse collection and recycling services in Alloa were disrupted by the severe weather. Crews attempted to clear the backlog as quickly as possible in the following days and the collection of brown bins was cancelled.

Bookings on the outdoor facilities at Alloa, Alva and Lornshill Academies were all cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. The council's meals on wheels service was not affected.

Concern over the safety of spectators attending the Alloa Athletic versus Cowdenbeath match at Recreation Park led to Saturday's top of the table clash being postponed.

The chilly conditions saw temperatures drop as far as minus 11 celcius in Scotland.

Mr Carrick said, "Remember the council cannot keep all roads and footways free from snow and ice at all times. We will target the most important roads and pavements first. I would ask all motorists and pedestrians to take extra care, particularly on untreated roads and pavements."

The wintry weather and freezing temperatures are expected to continue into the New Year.

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• 

  Jimmy Neebur
  Unregistered User
  Dec 30, 16:32
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  Ma pavement and street wis so icy that ah wouldnae huv been surprised tae seen yon Torville and Dean whizzin past. A wee bit of grit fae the graftin cooncil workies soon sorted it oot.
  
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• 

  adam
  Unregistered User
  Dec 31, 08:06
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  What did the gritters do AFTER they kept the main routes open? Could they not have entered the housing schemes and done a bit work there too? Its also debateable whether they are effective as councillor Carrick makes out. The A907 from the Blackgrange roundabout into Tullibody/Alloa was a nightmare, yet from the Stirling to Blackgrange there was no problem.
  
  Yet again a typical 'smoke & mirrors' presentation from a discredited Council!
  
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• 

  Jimmy Neebur
  Unregistered User
  Dec 31, 12:53
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  Ah live in a housin estate neebur and ma street got gritted after aw the main roads had been done. It ruined ma sledgin track though which ah wisnae happy aboot.
  
  Given yon heavy constant snow fall at times, followed by persistent icy conditions aw wis happy tae see them concentratin on the main roads tae keep them open. Meant ah wis able tae get tae Tesco nae bother. As ah understand it fae a wee browse on t'interweb, under certain conditions yon salt gets washed away and streets have tae be re-gritted tae keep them open. A bit like paintin yon Forth Road Bridge - start, finish, start again.
  
  In oor street the ither night ah heard yin of ma neeburs moaning cause his own driveway hadnae been cleared by the cooncil and he couldnae get his Rover oot. Guess it jist shows ye cannae keep aw the neeburs happy.
  
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• 

  Guga
  Unregistered User
  Dec 31, 14:19
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  Fa' wud ha thocht at this time o ra year having snaw an cald wuther
  
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• 

  Duncan MacCallum
  Unregistered User
  Dec 31, 23:28
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  As a past resident of tillicoultry it is good to see the snow at xmas as here in new zealand the weather was a warm and sunny 26 hope you are not to cold
  
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• 

  Jay Gee
  Unregistered User
  Jan 3, 07:58
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  A happy New Year tae yin an' a'! Is it just me, or would others agree? Jimmy Neebur should have his own column in the Advertiser! Usually balanced, always cheerful, and a damn sight less sensationalist and more articulate than the alleged "journalists".
  
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• 

  Dee
  Unregistered User
  Jan 4, 06:31
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  I for one would like to thank wee countys road teams ,as well as other area gritters,people have to understand ,yes the weather has been heavy and ,the worst for 20years , as some say but these people have not stopped for one minute.It must gall these guys when these people get on their soapbox and moan my streets not been cleared !!!!. Thanks to the council guys and women for doing a sometimes thankless task,with hardly no credit.
  
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• 

  Jimmy Neebur
  Unregistered User
  Jan 10, 02:32
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  "Jimmy Neebur should have his own column in the Advertiser!"
  
  Hahaha.... cheers neebur. Ah wid love tae dae that. Unfortunately though ma spellin sometimes lets me doon now and again. Ah wid need tae use one of yon spell chequers tae keep me right eh.
  
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• 

  Craig Hutchinson
  Unregistered User
  Jan 10, 11:04
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  I don't think anyone doubts that the council grit teams have been working round the clock and doing an excellent job however perhaps after this cold snap questions should be asked. Is it acceptable that bus route pavements were left untreated? Having walked the streets of this town (perhaps slid would be more appropriate) I was really shocked at their treacherous condition.
  
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• 

  Ray Brand
  Unregistered User
  Jan 19, 02:17
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  Pavements left untreated - there was a national salt shortage so i'm sure the Council prioritised resources accordingly and rightly concentrated on the roads first. I found my Hi-Tec Magnum boots to be more than a match for the icy pavements around town - a worthwhile investment for future winters.
  
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