‘High risk’ warning to motorists
POLICE are urging motorists to drive with “extreme caution” amid wintry conditions in Glasgow.
The Met Office amber weather warning ended at 5am and Police Scotland have downgraded their advice to “high risk”.
The weather service said: “Ice is likely to continue to be a problem in places.
“This will be due to a mix of clear spells and wintry showers in the north and west of Scotland, with some further accumulations of snow on hills.”
GLASGOW continues to be threatened by the ‘winter bomb’ following a new amber weather warning and heavy snow showers.
Gritters faced another long night as fresh snowfall worsened already dangerous driving conditions.
Motorists were warned to avoid travelling on the roads between 9pm and 5am today, when snow was predicted to hit, in areas including East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.
Schools and nurseries across all local authorities battled against the weather to remain open throughout Wednesday, despite several bus services being unable to collect children.
Glasgow City Council and East Dunbartonshire Council faced backlash following their decision to open schools, with some parents branding the move ‘disgraceful’.
The authorities stood by their decision, adding that schools and services will remain open today unless weather conditions deteriorate.
A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “We understand this can be very frustrating for parents and carers but our aim is to keep schools open and educate our children and young people - closing them is always a last resort.
“Thankfully we do not experience this extreme weather very often but we know that school closures are very challenging and create a lot of debate.
“We inform everyone as soon as we can to reduce work and childcare issues for our families – please bear with us...and the snow!”
A spokeswoman said teams from Land and Environmental services will be continuing to hand-grit residential areas in most need across the city today.
She added: “More than 500 council staff, contractors and housing association teams have been working around the clock to keep the city’s streets and neighbourhoods operational and this will continue until the weather eases.
“Throughout Wednesday we had resources gritting the residential areas we know require treatment, including 48 squads hand-gritting areas where needed.
“Resources will continue to focus on targeted residential areas and the 1400 grit bins located throughout the city continue to be restocked.
“Glasgow’s Winter Control Room has been operational since Monday and continues to monitor the road and weather conditions.
“Gritting crews were out last night treating priority carriageway routes in advance of forecast ice.”
Police Scotland were forced to issue their second warning advising drivers to avoid getting behind the wheel after more than 200 cars were stranded overnight on the M74 as heavy snow and ice caused treacherous driving conditions.
Meanwhile in Glasgow, council teams were unable to make their journey to pick up Santa due to the snow. Road conditions meant the Sauchie- hall Street Santas, created by school pupils, were stranded in The Garage nightclub awaiting their lift.
Club owner Donald MacLeod said: “Santa’s reindeer have been snowed in and unable to pick him up, We’ll keep hold of him until the weather clears and he can get back to the North Pole!”