Last updated at 12:35, Monday, 29 November 2010
Schools and workplaces were shut today as heavy snowfall hit the county’s roads again overnight.
Related: Cumbria wakes up to snow chaos
Sellafield workers were this morning told not to travel to work and more than 30 Cumbrian schools were closed, with more snow predicted to fall later this afternoon and tonight.
Over the weekend, United Utilities took more than 800 calls about frozen pipes hitting homes across the region.
Police say that although all the county’s roads remain open, motorists are urged to take care, drive to the conditions and allow extra time for journeys.
Main roads have been gritted but conditions are still bad on minor and estate roads, with fresh snow continuing to fall.
Roads listed as third priority are being treated due to the extended nature of the cold snap.
Replenishment of the county’s 10,000 grit bins and salt heaps is also being carried out.
Sellafield bosses took the decision to operate at minimum safety levels in the early hours of the morning.
A company statement said: “Following the recent deterioration in the weather conditions and a desire not to cause any unnecessary congestion on the roads local to the Sellafield site, the decision has been taken to remain at minimum safety manning levels. All day employees are asked to remain at home until advised to travel.”
A statement released at about 11am said that as the weather had settled and gritting had been completed, the site was being returned to fully operational.
All afternoon shifts should report to work as normal this afternoon, if safe to do so.
All personnel including contractors should attend as normal tomorrow morning – again if safe to do so.
The firm says staff should only travel between sites if it is absolutely necessary; phone or video links should be used where possible.
There has been some disruption to the library service.
Thornhill and Frizington libraries are closed today and Hensingham, Seascale and Whitehaven will close at 5pm instead of their scheduled times.
The mobile library service covering west Cumbria is not operating.
Wintry conditions initially hit the county of Friday night, with the majority of Cumbrians waking up to several inches of snow on Saturday morning.
Further snow continued to fall over the weekend, with reports of cars abandoned in parts of Cumbria – including the Red Lonning area of Whitehaven.
Many schools, particularly those in the west of the county, were forced to close this morning. They included St Benedicts School in Whitehaven, where year 11 pupils had been due to sit mock exams.
Caldew secondary and St Michael’s primary in Dalston are closed, as are Samuel King’s in Alston and Alston Primary School. Kirkbampton School near Carlisle was not hit by snow but closed because of burst pipes.
Buses carrying pupils from Talkin, Farlam, Armathwaite and Ainstable to William Howard School, Brampton, were cancelled, while children travelling from Dearham to Netherhall in Maryport were also hit.
Many other school bus routes across the county were affected, particularly in rural areas.
Some train services through the county have also been experiencing weather related delays, while all flights from Newcastle airport have been grounded by the snow.
United Utilities, which supplies water to seven million people in the north west, stressed that the problem is with customers’ own water pipes, not with the main supply network.
They advised those affected to use hot water bottles and hairdryers to thaw the pipes – but never to use naked flames.
Despite the widespread disruption, many families took the opportunity to get out and enjoy the snow over the weekend. Children across Cumbria were dusting off their sledges and taking to the hills, with favourite spots including Fellside, near Caldbeck.
The Met Office is predicting that temperatures will remain below zero, with further snowfall in parts of Cumbria tonight and later in the week.
CLOSED SCHOOLS
The following schools in the Whitehaven area are closed due to the snow and ice:
St Mary’s, Kells
Montreal
Hospital and home tuition service
Ennerdale and Kinniside primary
Cleator Moor nursery
West Lakes Academy, Egremont
Hensingham primary
Lamplugh C of E
Bransty primary
Monkwray junior
St Patricks, Cleator Moor
Frizington primary
Valley primary
St Benedict’s – also closed to students taking Year 11 mock exams
Moor Row
Kells infant
St Beghs
Orgill Primary School
St Bees
Moresby Primary
St Gregory and St Patrick
Jericho primary
Bookwell primary
St Begas, Eskdale
Mayfield Special school
Whitehaven School
Other schools closed are:
Hospital and home tuition service, Barrow
Hospital and home tuition service, Kendal
Kirkbampton (burst pipes)
Blennerhasset primary
Allendale Middle School
Lanercost C of E primary
Alston primary
Samuel King, Alston
St Michaels, Dalston
Crosthwaite Primary school
Caldew School, Dalston
Dallam School, Milnthorpe
Dowdales, Dalton in Furness
Crosscrake, near Kendal
School transport latest:
- 3D travel are not running coaches between St Bees and West Lakes Academy
- Minibus services to Welton school have been cancelled
- Thomason Travel, Wigton, will only pick up pupils on the main roads for Nelson Thomlinson school, Wigton
- William Howard School, Brampton, is open – Stacey’s Coaches are not going to Talkin, Farlam, Armathwaite, Ainstable.
- Mitchells Minibus and Telfords Coaches are not running.
- Brownriggs coaches are not running to West Lakes Academy Egremont
- Mitchells coaches will not be running to Hallbankgate School
- Ellenvale Coaches for Netherhall School are only running a main road service. No Dearham pickup.
Members of the public should contact Highways Agency for trunk roads or Highways Hotline for any gritting queries or requirements.
The Highways Hotline is 0845 609 6609.
First published at 08:07, Monday, 29 November 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
Have your say
!They are asking shift workers to go in back shift as they can get in single occ and get extra payments for this. enjoy!!
Posted by A Turner on
29 November 2010 at 12:30