Snow brings chaos to Surrey
Heavy snowfall overnight has Surrey locked in a state of chaos with schools closed, trains cancelled and aircraft grounded.
But, with severe weather warnings issued across the county, hours before the snow storms struck about 8.30pm yesterday (Tuesday), Surrey Country Council admitted a shortage of grit.
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Snow joke: County Council dangerous short of grit
Speaking to the Mirror, Ian Lake, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport warned only A roads and hospital routes would be treated.
He said grit silos across the county had 2,800 tonnes left of the 9,000 tonnes stored up before the previous blizzards struck before Christmas.
The council normally use 6,000 tonnes for an entire winter. The last bout of snow used 4,000 tonnes.
A further 270 tonnes is due to arrive this week, with a further 1,000 tonnes ordered from Spain – but without guarantee.
Desolate roads greeted commuters at 6.00am this morning, carpeted with 11 to 12cm, as more snow began to fall.
Surrey Mirror weatherman Ian Currie has predicted more snow to follow today, and throughout the week.
All Metro bus services have today been cancelled.
Schools in Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Mole Valley closed today include:
Abinger Common School , Dorking
Audley Primary School, Caterham
Banstead Community Junior School, Banstead
Banstead Infant School, Banstead
Brambletye Junior School, Redhill
Brooklands School, Reigate
Charlwood Village Infant School, Horley
De Stafford School, Caterham
Dovers Green School, Reigate
Downs Way School, Oxted
Earlswood Infant And Nursery School, Redhill
Eastwick Junior School, Leatherhead
Furzefield Primary Community School, Redhill
Godstone Village School, Godstone
Hamsey Green Infant School, Warlingham
Holmesdale Community Infant School, Reigate
Horley Infant School, Horley
Howard Of Effingham School, Leatherhead
Langshott Infant School, Horley
Leatherhead Trinity Primary School, Leatherhead
Limpsfield Church Of England Infant School, Oxted
Limpsfield Grange School, Oxted
Marden Lodge Primary School, Caterham
Meath Green Infant School, Horley
Meath Green Junior School, Horley
Merstham Primary School, Redhill
Oakfield Junior School, Leatherhead
Oakwood School, Horley
Reigate School, Reigate
South East Surrey Secondary Short Stay School, Reigate
St Andrew's Catholic Secondary School, Leatherhead
St Bede's School, Redhill
St Francis' Catholic Primary School, Caterham
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Redhill
St Lawrence Primary School, Leatherhead
St Martin's C Of E (Controlled) Primary School, Dorking
St Matthew's Church Of England Primary School, Redhill
St Michael's C Of E (A) First School, Dorking
St Nicholas School, Redhill
St Paul's Church Of England (Aided) Primary School, Dorking
St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Leatherhead
St Peter & St Paul C Of E Infant School, Caterham
St Stephen's Church Of England Primary School, Godstone
The Acorns Infant School, Reigate
The Acorns Infant School, Betchworth
The Beacon School, Banstead
The Priory Church Of England (Va) School, Dorking
The Raleigh School, Leatherhead
The Royal Kent C Of E Primary School, Leatherhead
The Warwick School, Redhill
The Weald C Of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dorking
Therfield School, Leatherhead
Warlingham School, Warlingham
Warlingham Village Primary School, Warlingham
Warren Mead Infant School, Banstead
West Hill School, Leatherhead
Westcott C Of E (Aided) First School, Dorking
Whyteleafe School, Whyteleafe
Woodfield School, Redhill
Woodlands School, Leatherhead
Woodmansterne Primary School, Banstead
*Send your snow pictures to editor@dorkingadvertiser.co.uk, editor@leatherheadadvertiser.co.uk or editor@surreymirror.co.uk
8 Comments
by Lily, Dorking
Sunday, January 10 2010, 5:47PM
“Only A roads and hospital roads would be treated. How come Pippbrook Council Office's car park and access road were treated then?”
by Negative, The Cronx
Friday, January 08 2010, 8:52AM
“Why is it selfish for someone to take salt from a bin to salt their drive? That is what it is for!”
by Its meee, Caterham
Thursday, January 07 2010, 11:19AM
“I saw a man yesturday taking grit from the bin in Fern Towers to grit his drive in Harestone Hill. How unfair is that. Selfish pig.”
by Ralph Heijmer, Oxted.
Thursday, January 07 2010, 11:15AM
“I have to say that whilst the Snow is a novel bit of fun for the Children there are some of us who depend on the road network to drive us to work.
I live in Limpsfield Chart, Oxted, and work in Sydenham, London and it is getting increasingly embarrassing that every time there is a bit of snow my journey becomes problematic, which result in my being late or not being able to even get in. Especially when my colleagues all live in the South London and don¿t realize the situation in the 'Countryside'.
Ok so we have received an astronomical amount of snow, which is now turning to ice. However the council's answer seems to be rather prepare themselves in advance, they just close any roads that might be hazardous. I have seen more ¿Road Closed¿ signs in the past few days than in a long time.
In the last two months I have seen only 2 gritters in action, and one of those wasn¿t gritting the road (it was just driving).
Here¿s a thought for Tandridge Council and SCC.¿. Why not look at the weather forecast, consult your Met Office contacts, and prepare. This means gritting the roads if there is ANY hint of frost, ice, snow, black ice etc.. forecasted. OK this might need some foresight on the Council¿s part but don¿t we live a the 21st century in of the most advanced countries in the world??? Oh and ensure that there is enough salt to go around as well. With reference to the above news article ¿ where on earth is 270 tonnes going to get us, if we have already used 6000???
If countries like Switzlerand, can do it, why can¿t the UK.”
by sarah, merstham
Thursday, January 07 2010, 10:30AM
“the council are running out of grit, well I guess the fact the people are taking the grit from the grit boxes around the area to use on their garden paths wont help then. I always thought these boxes were there for people to put on the roads as the council can't get everywhere but I must be wrong.”
by Marcus, Leatherhead, Leatherhead
Thursday, January 07 2010, 9:37AM
“Roads in Leatherhead are a complete ice rink. How can the council be so irresponsible to not have treated any of the main roads?”
by Jason, Dorking
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 5:13PM
“"Speaking to the Mirror, Ian Lake, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport warned only A roads and hospital routes would be treated."
Hospital routes???
Funny how the route to Dorking hospital wasn't gritted or cleared then....
Pipbrook staff car park got cleared though...
Mmmm.”
by Negative, The Cronx
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 12:25PM
“So, the gritting department failing has prevented schools from openeing, refuse being collected, buses from runnig. Will we be receiving refunds on our council tax?”