Snow bother in Hamilton
Whiteout causes chaos on roads but it’s fun for some...
The snow may have brought chaos to roads across Lanarkshire but many have shown true grit as they made the best of the weather.
Police have received almost double the amount of normal calls due to the adverse conditions.
Road crews have “worked tirelessly” to try and keep traffic moving.
And although a number of schools were forced to close earlier in the week, youngsters have been making the most of the snow – as these pictures show.
Inspector Scott Mccarren of Hamilton Police said yesterday (Wednesday): “In the last 24 hours, our sub-division has received around double the amount of calls which have been in relation to the snow.”
South Lanarkshire Council had 23 gritters working through the night across the region on Tuesday as the snow descended.
Head of roads Gordon Mackay said: “Although the conditions have been challenging, our teams have worked tirelessly to keep roads and pavements gritted.”
He added: “The focus of our gritting efforts is on the main roads and town centre footpaths. Our precautionary carriageway gritting routes comprise A and B class routes, urban and local distributor routes, a route to rural settlements and a carriageway route to each school as well as to police stations, fire stations and ambulance depots.
“Only once the condition of these routes is made safe can we seek to expand our gritting operations onto other roads and footpaths. It is not possible to treat all of the roads and footways which everyone might wish or as soon as they may wish.
“We have to work on a priority basis, retreating the main roads and town centre footpaths periodically, often in response to continuing snow showers, to ensure they are as safe as possible, and then treating other roads and pavements as our available resources permit.”
The council also urged residents to keep an eye on their “vulnerable neighbours”.
An update yesterday (Wednesday) said: “Priority routes have been continually treated since Monday and will be ploughed and gritted again through today and tonight. Priority footpaths were gritted again at 4.30am and will be re-treated again at midday.
“All available resources now have been deployed to secondary roads and paths. Farmers and contractors have been assisting us throughout the night to keep roads open.
“Please drive to weather conditions, keep an eye out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours and keep monitoring our social media for further updates.”
Advertiser reader Clive Vettese praised council workers for their efforts in helping motorists in Hamilton’s Sherry Drive.
He said: “Cars were left abandoned in Sherry Drive due to them struggling to get up the hill because of the snow, and the good samaritans at South Lanarkshire Council assisted people to get their cars on the move again.”
On Tuesday, Auchengray Primary and Leadhills Primary in the Clydesdale area were forced to close at 12.30pm. There was disruption to school bus services that same day.
Meanwhile in North Lanarkshire, secondary school pupils had their prelim examinations rescheduled for a later date due to the adverse weather.
A number of schools in the Clydesdale area were closed yesterday (Wednesday), including Carmichael Primary, Forth Primary, Carstairs Junction, Crawford Primary, Abington Primary and Rigside Rural Community Nursery.
Parents whose children attend St Bride’s Primary in Bothwell, were also notified by text that there was a staff shortage, with nine out of 14 teachers able to make to the school.
Please drive to weather conditions and keep an eye out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours