Eerie stillness on the freezing streets of Bath

They’re normally thronged with shoppers and office workers going about their daily business.

But today there was an eerie stillness to the streets of the city centre.

Those punters daring to face the elements were equipped with wellies, sledges and 4x4’s.

Restaurants and shops, both independents and chains, sat dormant. With endless shop windows sporting notes apologising for the inconvenience.

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Individuals that had made it into work, walked; with both buses and trains delayed or cancelled, some didn’t make it in at all.

Not only did the local shops suffer from lack of staff and transport catastrophes, but larger chain-shops did too.

With places like: Thornton’s, The Carphone Warehouse, Karen Millen, and French Connection all closed; it’s a wonder any of the little locals managed to open against the odds of the elements.

Still, amidst all the disorder, places of business managed to make the most of the snow. Eric Snook’s proudly displayed a window full of sledges; Pizza Express built a snow-waiter holding a pizza box, and cafes and tearooms artfully altered their A-boards, publicising hot chocolates and cakes.

Punters were smiling and welcomed the day off, one particular couple said: “It’s brilliant! We can’t go to work today as the building site is shut, so we’re going joy riding in the car. Driving has been brilliant!”

Whilst shop owners struggled to share the same cheerful spirit, one at Green Street’s ‘Fashion Fabrics’ said: “Both my buses were cancelled today, so I had to walk in. What is usually a 14 minute-walk, took much longer! My boss couldn’t make it in either; she’s trapped in the snow.”

With an empty high street, it’s surprising that Bath managed to remain as open as it did. But then again, perhaps we were just ready for this snow catastrophe.

MADISON CLARKE