SKIDPAN SCOTLAND
Motorists vent their fury over ‘ungritted’ roads as storm brings ‘multiple’ crashes
ROADS became impassable last night with ‘multiple’ crashes as black ice, freezing rain and heavy snow caused chaos for Scots.
Snow gates were closed in some areas as Storm Deirdre battered the country and caused treacherously icy conditions.
Police confirmed there were ‘multiple’ crashes on the M74 between Moffat and Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, while drivers vented their anger at what they claimed to be ungritted sections of Scotland’s main link to the south.
One posted a picture of an HGV struggling through the snow, adding: ‘Traffic Scotland: We all knew this was coming and this is the M74. Absolute disgrace!’
Another motorist, Kevin McIntyre, posted on social media: ‘M74 northbound Moffat to Abington ungritted. Barely passable with one lane at 20mph!!!’
The A84 was blocked in both directions north of Callander, Stirlingshire, while snow gates were closed on the A93 between Spittal of Glenshee, Perthshire, and Braemar, Aberdeenshire.
An accident also partially blocked the A9 between Dunkeld and Pitlochry, Perthshire. And around 1,200 homes were left without power in Moray, although it was hoped this would be restored by last night.
Power cuts were reported also in Haddington and Dunbar, East Lothian, and Kelso and Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.
Temperatures plunged as low as -6C in some areas amid blizzards and gale-force winds, with gusts of 119mph in the Cairngorms. ScotRail had to cancel services on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route during the afternoon, with more axed between the capital and North Berwick – where people braved a chilly Santa Run on the beach.
A ScotRail spokesman said: ‘The vast majority of our services have run and we’re working hard to improve that.’
Ferry operator Cal Mac dropped sailings to and from Ardrossan, Oban and Mallaig, while flights failed to take off at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
The Met Office said conditions are set to improve today but a warning remains for high winds around Shetland and Orkney. Forecaster Simon Partridge said: ‘There will still be a risk of ice on many roads.’