Leeds roads bosses confident about grit supplies (From Wharfedale Observer)

Leeds roads bosses confident about grit supplies

6:50am Thursday 7th January 2010

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Council chiefs are vowing to keep the main roads open as Wharfedale and Airedale residents brace themselves for further snow and icy temperatures.

Heavy early morning snow caused widespread disruption on Tuesday when motorists faced treacherous conditions, many bus services were delayed or cancelled and schools were forced to close. Rubbish collections were suspended, with council staff instead being redirected to help with gritting duties.

Flights were delayed or cancelled from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Further snow overnight on Tuesday brought similar transport headaches yesterday although many bus services were running, albeit only on main roads. A string of further flights at LBA were also disrupted.

The continuing wintry conditions across the country, which look set to continue into the weekend, have seen some local authorities warn they are running dangerously low on grit and salt.

Leeds City Council, however, says it still has enough to keep gritting for at least another nine days – with a fresh delivery due to arrive next Tuesday.

A council spokesman said: “We’re estimating that we’ll be fine for grit and don’t expect to have any problems.”

Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive) chairman Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: “The city council ordered the same amount of grit for this year as we used last year, which was also an exceptional year for weather. So we were at a high point when we ordered it in and are well prepared, although if the cold weather continues to carry on then it could become challenging.

“People in Otley and around are quite sensible when it comes to this kind of weather, although what we have had with the snow has been exceptional.

“We’ve had to suspend rubbish collections because many of the side roads are bad, but most things are still running. The main roads are open and the trains are running and when you get snow like this what else can you do but get on with it and do your best?

“We did manage to get some hand-gritting teams out around Otley and Yeadon on Tuesday, so there was some additional gritting done and we’re responding where we can.

“The buses were a little bit difficult on Tuesday but were better on Wednesday, although there was a problem in Otley to do with the school bus my daughter uses to get to Prince Henry’s, which didn’t show up. It comes from the Bradford depot where there was apparently a problem, so I’m looking into that now.”

Although large numbers of Leeds and Bradford schools were closed on Tuesday, virtually all of the primary and secondary schools in this area had opened again by Wednesday.

Coun Downes said: “All credit to our local schools for getting open again.”

Despite reports of some food shortages and panic buying elsewhere in the region, local supermarkets like Sainsbury’s in Otley said they had noticed no significant increase in sales of food or tinned products since the snow began.

Morrisons, however, which has stores at Guiseley, Horsforth and Yeadon, did see a huge, 400 per cent rise in sales of one item – 1.5kg bags of cooking salt. The company puts the increase down to residents deciding to take the task of keeping their drives and paths ice-free into their own hands.

Morrisons group marketing and communications director, Angus Maciver, said: “With salt sales up by almost 400 per cent compared to the same time last week, it is clear that our shoppers are trying to get a grip on the snowy weather.”

Yorkshire Water, meanwhile, has now fixed a burst water main that had closed the A65 at Guiseley on Tuesday, but the road is still awaiting repair and so is partially closed.

A spokesman for the company, which thinks the low temperatures caused the problem, said: “The road is open for Leeds-bound traffic but there’s a diversion for traffic coming the other way, taking vehicles down Park Road and Back Lane before they rejoin Otley Road. The repair was set for Wednesday but the snow has delayed the work. We hope to have it done by today but it depends on whether we get any more snow.”

Motorists are continuing to be advised to only drive on essential journeys while the snowy weather continues.

Out of the Education Leeds-controlled schools in Aireborough, Horsforth and Wharfedale only Horsforth School was listed as closed yesterday on the city council’s website.

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