The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Snow causes disruption across Tayside and Fife
Heavy snowfall caused havoc for motorists – and delight for sledgers – across Tayside and Fife yesterday, with forecasters warning more wintry weather is on the way.
In Perth and Kinross, Precinct Street, leading out of Coupar Angus, had to be sealed off due to subsidence. Council crews are investigating.
It was one of three roads in Perth and Kinross which were forced to close because of weather conditions.
The A93 at Glenshee and the C446 Tullymurdoch Road, between Alyth and Blackwater, were also shut yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, in west Fife, sub-zero overnight temperatures and snow caused difficulties for some commuters.
Drivers were urged to drive with extreme caution after snow drifts covered both the north and southbound lanes of the M90 on the approach to the Queensferry Crossing.
Treacherous conditions in Dunfermline resulted in long tailbacks as vehicles struggled to access the steep incline at Townhill, while visitors to Queen Margaret Hospital in the town also faced delays due to snow on the B912 which caused long queues at the hospital entrance.
Snow and black ice caused a number of crashes across the region.
Police were forced to close the B9157 Dalgety Bay to Kirkcaldy for a time following a two-vehicle collision close to Orrock Quarry while further north, a tractor and trailer crashed into the grass verge, blocking the Pitscottie to Craigtoun road in both directions for around an hour while recovery of the vehicle got under way.
The blizzards, which started on Sunday night, also resulted in a two-car collision in Victoria Road, Dundee.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said officers were alerted around 12.40am.
“No one was injured as a result of the incident and the road was closed between Alexander Street and Victoria Road,” she said.
Albert Street and the Hilltown in the city were both covered in snow and ice, with cars and pedestrians struggling to navigate the steep streets.
Marc Garty, who owns Just Right For Reptiles in Stobswell, said: “I think it’s fair that they’re telling people to keep safe and avoid travel unless they have to.
“Walking is also a lot harder, especially for older people.”
Darren Baker, a 22-yearold employee at Premier Hilltown, said: “When my taxi was bringing me down this morning he had to hold the brake the whole time and the car just slipped down.”
“Treacherous” conditions were also reported in Angus.
Sarah Kent, a weather expert at the UK Met Office, said Dundee and the surrounding areas would see even more snowfall in the coming days.
She said: “We’re going to keep seeing cold, easterly winds coming in for the next few days and they’ve picked up some moisture, so we are going to see shower after shower after shower.
“While there is that yellow warning for all of eastern Scotland, there’s now an amber warning nestled within that from 3am to 9pm tomorrow.
“Dundee is lying right on the edge of that amber warning right now, so it will be seeing snow showers, and if we see any changes we may well adjust that warning area.
“I really encourage people to stay up to date with their radio or local news so they know what’s going on.”
Angus beauty spot visitors have been given a stay safe message as the winter weather makes its presence felt.
The combination of last week’s heavy rain and the snows which have now hit the area have left parts of many popular spots out of bounds.
They include Forfar Loch, where water levels are as high as regular users can remember.
The issues are particularly prevalent at the west end near the Forfar bypass, where both the Dean and Silvie Burn enter the loch.
Several parts of the path around the loch are under water.
Other country parks at Monikie and Crombie have also been badly affected.
An Angus Alive spokesperson urged dog walkers and other visitors to adopt a safety first approach and steer clear of the troublespots.
“Our advice would be to stay away from lochs, reservoirs, rivers and burns at this time, as people will not be sure how close they are to the edge and how deep these will be,” they said.
“We would again remind people to stay off any ice-covered water.”
During the recent heavy frosts, youngsters were seen venturing out on to the Forfar Loch ice, despite the expanse of the water and potentially deadly risk of falling through it.
Angus Alive has posted up warning signs around the area.
“While visiting any outdoor spaces we would advise that people stick to recognised paths and wear suitable clothing and sturdy waterproof footwear,” added the spokesperson.