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05/02/2009
Heavy Snow Fall Brings Further Disruption
Heavy snow falls throughout Britain have caused further havoc and brought fresh travel disruption.
The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Motorists have been warned to expect delays and to exercise extra caution.
Meanwhile driving is treacherous on major routes including the M1, M4 and M5, while there are fears some local authorities are running out of salt to grit the roads.
Some councils have admitted they are now only using salt on major routes and Britain's biggest salt supplier, Cheshire-based Salt Union, said staff are working round the clock but still cannot meet demand.
"We have been operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week since the beginning of January and are extracting 30 million kilos per week but the unexpected and unusual weather means that, even working at this level, demand is outstripping supply," the firm said.
Cleveland Potash, the Highway Agency’s second supplier, also said it has arranged for 40,000 tonnes of salt to be imported from its sister mine in Spain.
Runways at Birmingham, Luton, Cardiff, East Midlands and Belfast City airports are shut, because of the conditions.
However, Transport for London, which was affected by the snow at the start of the week, said it was "business as usual" and any disruption to trains, Tubes and buses was not weather related.
See: Commuters Face Delays As Big Freeze Continues
(JM/BMcC)
The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings for heavy snow in much of southern and central England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Motorists have been warned to expect delays and to exercise extra caution.
Meanwhile driving is treacherous on major routes including the M1, M4 and M5, while there are fears some local authorities are running out of salt to grit the roads.
Some councils have admitted they are now only using salt on major routes and Britain's biggest salt supplier, Cheshire-based Salt Union, said staff are working round the clock but still cannot meet demand.
"We have been operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week since the beginning of January and are extracting 30 million kilos per week but the unexpected and unusual weather means that, even working at this level, demand is outstripping supply," the firm said.
Cleveland Potash, the Highway Agency’s second supplier, also said it has arranged for 40,000 tonnes of salt to be imported from its sister mine in Spain.
Runways at Birmingham, Luton, Cardiff, East Midlands and Belfast City airports are shut, because of the conditions.
However, Transport for London, which was affected by the snow at the start of the week, said it was "business as usual" and any disruption to trains, Tubes and buses was not weather related.
See: Commuters Face Delays As Big Freeze Continues
(JM/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
