Snow causes knock-on effect across kingdom

Fife hit by cancelled transport, school closures and shortage of supplies as deliveries fail

Widespread disruption across Fife is set to continue well into the weekend after the region bore the brunt of the so-called Beast from the East.

Snowploughs and gritters have been working around the clock, but heavy snowfall, strong winds and drifting snow took their toll.

Communities across the kingdom have been cut off and a number of roads were impassable throughout the day.

Fife schools will remain closed until Monday at the earliest, as will Fife College campuses, while St Andrews University suspended classes yesterday.

Trains were not operating through Fife for the whole of yesterday, while Stagecoach also decided against running buses as Police Scotland warned people not to travel.

That warning, however, failed to stop some and many drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles.

The A92 was blocked at Rathillet due to drifting snow, the conditions closed the route between Freuchie and Melville Lodges, and a jack-knifed lorry blocked the road between Freuchie and New Inn roundabout, although it was just one of dozens of routes affected in the region.

Bin collections have also been cancelled for the rest of the week as it was deemed too dangerous for staff to venture out, while Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Crematoria were closed yesterday and will be again today.

Council chief executive Steve Grimmond admitted the local authority was having to take “unprecedented” action in the wake of the weather.

“We’ll continue to run the gritting fleet as long as it’s safe to do so, but we cannot contend with recurring heavy snowfalls,” he said.

“I want to thank employees who have been out and about in freezing temperatures to do what they can to keep communities open and vital services, such as meals on wheels, running.”

Another major concern across Fife is dwindling supplies, with many local shops said to be running out of staples like milk and bread.

Blizzards meant delivery vans have been unable to get through, leaving some residents low on provisions. Villages served by country roads were worst affected.

Robert Barr, 63, who runs the Purple Shop in Aberdour’s Main Street, said: “The shop’s been as busy at it would be on the hottest day of the year.

“We’ve plenty of groceries but no rolls, papers, bread or milk.

“The rolls come from Glenrothes but they got stuck at Kinghorn. We get milk on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but we ran out yesterday.”

Meanwhile, health chiefs in Fife paid tribute to staff who have kept vital services running despite freezing temperatures and several feet of snow.

Many employees have worked longer hours, while others have stayed in temporary accommodation or with family and friends to ensure they were available for duty. Others have offered spare rooms and shared 4x4 vehicles to get people to work, while others have walked considerable distances.

All outpatient appointments were cancelled yesterday and will be off today.

Chief executive Paul Hawkins said: “Everyone has shown great resilience and rallied around to provide support.”

Volunteers with Kinghorn and Anstruther RNLI were out and about helping around their respective towns as the emergency services were stretched.