It's the calm before the (rain and snow) storm
Forecasters say Bath's brief respite from the snow chaos could be shattered later today.
A combination of snowstorms, increasing bitter northeasterly winds and heavy rain are expected to plunge the city back into transport chaos tonight and tomorrow morning.
After days of disruption due to snow and ice, the spectre of flooding has now been added to the equation.
The belt of bad weather is likely to move in at the end of the afternoon, but the Met Office says there are also likely to be icy roads and pavements in some sheltered parts this morning after another cold night last night
Bus services in Bath have returned to normal today as main roads remain clear of ice and snow, and park and ride sites are all operating.
The Royal United Hospital cancelled some routine surgery today but outpatient appointments returned to normal this afternoon.
A spokeswoman said: "The hospital will be closely monitoring the weather situation over the next 24 hours but there are no plans to cancel any
appointments or clinics at this time."
The spokeswoman said the RUH Trust was grateful to all staff who had gone to extra efforts to get in to work.
"The trust has thanked all its staff who made every effort to come to work, including those who were on a day off, with some even staying overnight to
make sure the excellent level of care was maintained."
The RUH has laid on a 4x4 vehicle to help people get to and fro.
It says its accident and emergency department saw fewer patients over the weekend than on the
previous weekend, "with many people taking heed of public messages not to
take unnecessary risks in the snow."
Driving conditions in Bath eased over the weekend as several days' worth of snow began to melt.
Ungritted side roads remained icy, and pavements too have been hazardous in places.
Bath and North East Somerset Council carried out salting runs on main roads over the weekend.
Its highways teams are stiill working round the clock to keep an eye on roads and had inspectors checking the network throughout the night.
The council says it has also concentrated its efforts on the entrances to the RUH.
A spokesman added: "Pedestrians should be careful on pavements where ice may still remain in some places. This particularly applies to areas on higher ground where the snowfall was heavier and there is less footfall than cities, where a greater number of pedestrians and vehicles have circulated any salt used by the council."
All council car parks were open today but the council says motorists should use them with care because of settled snow and ice in some places.
The council is aiming to get rubbish collections back to normal today after missing three days of work due to the weather this week.
Street cleaning staff were drafted in to grit pavements and car parks over the weekend.
On Friday, every state school in Bath and North East Somerset was shut and almost all aspects of community life were affected in one way or another by the worst snow for 18 years but they were all back to normal today.
Some pupils were set work to do at home, with Ralph Allen School posting e-learning activities on its website.
After more than foot of snow on Thursday night, the council used snowploughs in some areas and even drafted in farmers to help clear roads in rural parts.
Timsbury Cricket Club’s annual cabaret night - which starred the Wurzels - avoided becoming another casualty of the winter storms after a big effort by members of the club and the Conygre Hall Trust.
The event at the hall was under threat due to the condition of the car park but a large group of residents managed to clear the snow that had covered the area around the building in a five-hour operation.
It has been a busy time for taxi companies, with the bad weather meaning people do not want to drive themselves.
Abbey Taxis chairman John Innerd said: "I would definitely say it has been very busy, but we have to be careful with the icy weather."
Great Western Ambulance Service has urged people to take extra care on foot and when driving.
It drafted in 30 4x4 vehicles to answer the 821 calls it received during a 24 hour period between 6pm on Wednesday and 6pm on Thursday.
One in six of these 999 calls were due to people falling in the snow and ice.
Chief executive Anthony Marsh thanked the emergency services staff and voluntary groups such as St John Ambulance and the Red Cross for their hard work.
He said: “On behalf of patients, I would like to express my gratitude to all those people and to reassure the public that I am confident we can continue to deliver this excellent level of service despite the bad weather forecast to continue for the next few days at least.”
He added: "This week's adverse weather has been a superb example of the NHS, emergency services and voluntary sector working together. By doing so, it has meant our staff have been able to continue responding to 999 emergencies and delivering excellent patient care.
"So far, we have not had to deal with significantly higher numbers of 999 calls – but more calls have been for incidents such as traffic collisions and falls. The weather forecast for the next few days suggests more of those incidents are likely – so I would urge people firstly to ask themselves if their journey is really necessary and, if it is, to take extra care whether they are driving or on foot.
"Given the potential increased demands on our staff over the next few days, I would also remind the public only to dial 999 for life-threatening emergencies. This will allow us to focus resources on those patients who genuinely need an ambulance response."
For anyone wanting to access medical help for something other than a life-threatening emergency, NHS Direct is a 24-hour service providing a wide range of advice and information about many conditions. They can be contacted on 0845 46 47 or visiting www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
54 Comments
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by Shaun, Bath
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 12:03PM
“The legal position is that the council is the only body apart from utility companies authorised to perform works on the street or pavement. Snow clearing is classed as work.
A single test case over 20 years ago which involved somebody pouring boiling water onto snow to clear it resulted in a successful sueing of a resident as they were negligent by actually creating black ice. Polishing ice with boiling water is something I did as a kid back in 1790 odd so the person could be classed under should have known better. No other cases have ever come to court neither have any cases I can find of people trying to sue the local council for not performing the work as it has the automatic defence of giving priority to major routes.
In fact historically the council has never cleared minor roads, and has never collected bins due to staff being reallocated to gritting duties in shopping areas and main roads. If you look back to the big snows of 1960 it was residents who cleared their paths then with exactly the same legal status as now.
It used to be that neighbours were looked down on for not clearing their path, obviously people consider their neighbours potential litigants who should be avoided at all costs, or maybe they can't be bothered and see this tenuos legal stance as an easy excuse.
The Conservatives have in the past (Last one 2004) sought clarification on the legal situation but have never recieved support from the opposition possibly as it would be seen as taking jobs from the council workers. They are reluctant to bring an obligation into law as exists in places such as Germany as this smacks of overregulation, more a Lib Dem policy.”
by Peter, Weston
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 11:45AM
“Yes, a BIG 'thank you' from me too to our 'unseen hero' the man from Weston High Street Dairy, who delivered to us every day without fail despite the snow. We even got our paper from Star News too, which was most unexpected. What a shame that the same effort could not be demonstrated by the Council, who neither gritted the roads or pavements (except in isolated spots) and could not get their lorries out to collect rubbish long after the snow had receded and private delivery lorries were going about their business as normal.”
by Helen, Bath
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 10:05AM
“There's a widespread view that if you leave the snow outside your house uncleared, you will not be held liable for any accidents that occur on it, but if you try to clear it and someone then injures themself walking past your house, you could be sued. So people don't clear their snow for fear of having to pay damages if they do. Perhaps someone with more legal experience than I could comment on this.”
by JM, Bath
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 9:22AM
“Shaun, are you not missing the same point as Mike? We are not talking about people who can't be bothered, but about elderly and infirm people who HAVE bothered to get to their places of work in past (worse) winters and are now left stranded by PC and Health and Safety regulations. If a person is relied upon to do a delivery job, then they should be prepared to do it all year round, not just when they can wear shorts and enjoy the stroll. Isn't it a bit like people who join the armed forces and then complain that they have to fight? In past years, the binmen not only came, but also collected everybody's metal dustbins from the back gardens, emptied them into the lorry and put them back. Now they are unable for whatever reason to walk along a road and sling pre-placed bags into the back of the lorry! The milkmen always came in their wellies with snow chains on the wheels of the float and everyone got on with life. The big difference that I can see is that very few people are prepared to dig out elderly neighbours or even knock on their door to see if they are OK.
As for Katy, I think you have kind of shot down your own argument. For whatever reason, your neighbours chose not to help you, but where you were prepared to make the effort to get to your job, big burly binmen and milkmen were not. I have to wonder though if what you do is so important it was worth putting at risk not only your own safety but that of your unborn child.”
by Shaun, Bath
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 7:38AM
“Well that was all a bit of an anti-climax. I had got myself all sorted out for a snow day as well.
I sympathise with Katie, all these people moaning about how others should put themselves out but they can't be bothered to lift a finger themselves.
On the steep hill I live on the ice has been very severe. Because of that there is a permamanent grit bin, it was even refilled last Thursday, but the council shouldn't have bothered. Out of about 100 households radiating out from that grit bin 2 had gritted paths outside.
All the adults and children found time to throw snow around in the street but nobody seemed to manage to clear it from outside their houses, but they all expected the postman and milkman and binmen to walk up the ice and snow to deliver their letters.
The reason the likes of Northern American States, Canada, Scandanavia, Central Europe etc. cope with small amounts of snow is because individuals are expected to clear their own paths, fit the correct tyres, and carry the necessary foul weather equipment in their cars. In the UK the majority sit back and whine about the fact that others are not putting themselves at risk to deliver a pint of milk.
And whilst I know what Johns Problem is, I'm not sure how it relates to the weather. I'm sure the bottom testing machine was not housed outside and failed due to excessive snow, unless it is larger than one would expect.”