More than 60 accidents so far today as black ice grips South Lakeland (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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More than 60 accidents so far today as black ice grips South Lakeland
8:55am Thursday 9th February 2012 in News
BLACK ice is causing rush-hour chaos across South Lakeland this morning.
Rain started falling on already frozen ground overnight, causing thick ice and treacherous conditions for both drivers and pedestrians.
Cumbria Police have responded to more than 60 accidents so far today. Lancashire Police said they have been called out to around ten accidents on the M6 between junction 33 and junction 36 on both carriageways.
Wary motorists were seen turning their vehicles around and pedestrians trying to navigate their way along town centre footpaths.
Cumbria Police urged drivers to slow down, drive with extreme care and to delay journeys where possible.
A spokesman said the M6 and A684 are extremely hazardous and only passable with extreme care.
Cumbria County Council described the conditions as a 'perfect storm', which would last for 24 hours.
A spokesman said: "Cumbria County Council's gritting crews have been operating at full capacity overnight and this morning treating priority one and two routes and, where possible, non-priority roads and footways.
"Although air temperatures have risen above freezing in many places, ground temperatures remain below zero, causing the rain to freeze on the ground and create patches of black ice. Drivers and pedestrians can be lulled into thinking that the ground looks wet, when it is in fact icy.
"The gritting treatment is also less effective in rainy conditions as the salt can be washed away before managing to clear the ice.
"Cumbria's fleet of gritters have attempted to counter this by increasing the 'spread rate' of the rock salt and putting the maximum amount onto the roads."
But MP Tim Farron said on Facebook: "The lack of gritting on paths has made the South Lakes an ice-rink. I will again press the county council to act to grit local roads and paths. It has made it impossible to get anywhere!"
Across South Lakeland a number of schools have closed due to the dangerous conditions including: Windermere Junior School, Crosscrake Primary, St Patricks Primary and Lindale Primary.
Nicola Horan, 34, of The Old School House, Sedgwick, described the village as "a no go area" as she had to be rescued by her boyfriend, passers-by and a farmer as her slow moving car went into a dangerous skid towards the River Kent.
Kendal resident Alan Mason, 74, said the grit box on Ashleigh Road was taken away last year and never returned. "I don't know what I pay my rates for," said Mr Mason. "Our road is like a sheet of glass. Lots of elderly people live here so there is going to be people breaking limbs. I would like something done quite urgently about the state of our road."
Peter Shaw, of Capper Close, Kendal, said: “It’s just terrible and all you can do is try to negotiate the footpaths. Why in other European countries are they much better at treating the roads whereas here all we do is wait for the snow and ice to come.”
Comments(23)
GuidoFawkes
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11:08am Thu 9 Feb 12
Pringle1982
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11:24am Thu 9 Feb 12
Airfix
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12:27pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Lakeuk
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1:07pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Not read any of Tim's posts on this mornings ice but it's well known what the county councils does regarding gritting of roads/paths - no good moaning after the horse has bolted
tictoc1
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1:42pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Wilson Grizleymire
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1:59pm Thu 9 Feb 12
I understand some Parishes may not be able to run to this expense but Milnthorpe is a compact Parish with a bit of brass and they have spent some of it well .Good on'em.
Helvellyn55
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2:05pm Thu 9 Feb 12
LilyTarn
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2:27pm Thu 9 Feb 12
tictoc1
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2:28pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Helvellyn55 wrote:I'm usually a fan of TF but not on this subject. You summed it up pretty nicely and I agree with you.
Why does Farron immediately have to stamp his feet and state that people are not doing their jobs properly? he is simply seeking a cheap headline as 'the champion of the people' whilst talking nonsense.He is really saying the the gritting folk are useless slackers meriting the sack. A lovely vote of thanks for those who go out when others are tucked up warmly in their beds.
lakesman
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2:41pm Thu 9 Feb 12
nyge54
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3:25pm Thu 9 Feb 12
lakesman
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4:48pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Silversidesand
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5:34pm Thu 9 Feb 12
nyge54 wrote:Even big gritting vehicles slip and slide. They grit from the back, which means they're constantly being driven over the ice. The drivers deserve medals for turning out and doing the "Cresta Run". You might just remember seeing a gritting lorry on its side in the Rochdale area in a recent winter; the driver died, just doing his job.
Tim is right in what he says,its always last minute with our council when the damage is done , you just dont see gritters out until people complain like last year, a lot of peoples jobs are risky but they do them , going out is more risky than driveing a huge gritter van excuses excuses, and whats the point of grit boxes used once then never refilled a joke.
Gingery
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6:39pm Thu 9 Feb 12
Basically current arrangements are ineffective, rightly or wrongly I'm sure there'd be willing volunteers like myself if more grit was offered and distrubuted properly ie not left in a grit bin that is inaccessible!
life cycle too
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7:52pm Thu 9 Feb 12
It has angular grit in with the salt, which even if the salt is washed out, remains on the surface, providing something to grip on.
It was very effective last year - and I had three bags left over, which are nearly gone now!
However, I see that they can deliver to your door, 4 bags and a snow shovel for £70.
If you really feel up to gritting your own property, I would recommend you order BEFORE the next weather event - share with neighbours if necessary, then you will not have to rely on the local council... you will be able to grit right away - in the place where it matters to YOU.
MJ-kendal
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10:03am Fri 10 Feb 12
No amount of gritting would have helped this unusual situation.
brokenbanjo
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6:58pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Moonbase
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10:04am Sat 11 Feb 12
There is also a directive that on country roads they cannot spred liberally because salt damages the hedgerow.
Mind how you go!!!!!!
life cycle too
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1:01pm Sat 11 Feb 12
Moonbase wrote:To be fair they cannot spread on the pavement - parked cars and people walking by would prevent it even if they wished to do so.
The Gritter's are capable of spreading grit on the pavements as they drive pass but won't as the council are frightened of being sued if someone slips and they are deemed as not doing there job.
There is also a directive that on country roads they cannot spred liberally because salt damages the hedgerow.
Mind how you go!!!!!!
Several local councils have equipment to grit pavements - Windermere and Bowness have hand gritters - but they are kept at the Ecclerigg Depot past White Cross Bay - and nobody from SLDC seemed available to take them to where they were needed - even though volunteer manpower was available to operate them if they had got there!
After clarification from the government, the argument about ANYONE being sued if their gritting is ineffective, has been laid to rest.
Roysyboy
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12:05pm Sun 12 Feb 12
"What's wrong with people clearing snow from the front of their houses..."
I noticed someone had done this in order to be able to easily get their car out of their drive. Unfortunately, they piled the snow onto the pavement thus making it difficult for local pedestrians!
This is Thatcherite egotism gone mad!
Goosed1
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2:24pm Sun 12 Feb 12
And why Council workers haven't used them within a week after a snow shower?
At a guess I dare say its manual work and Health and Safety!
life cycle too
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4:44pm Sun 12 Feb 12
Goosed1 wrote:They belong to Windermere Town Council - but are supposed to be transported to the town by SLDC - and this has not been done.
My Question is why is there two hand gritters still in the Ecclerigg Depot?
And why Council workers haven't used them within a week after a snow shower?
At a guess I dare say its manual work and Health and Safety!
Unfortunately the Town Council do not have funds for a vehicle to do this, or storage for the hand gritters - although they have volunteers to operate them!
TomHarvey says...
10:09am Thu 9 Feb 12
Maybe your District Council should be out doing the pavements?