Black ice threat on flooded roads
Council teams were sent to troublespots including Brassknocker Hill and the B3115 through Tunley and long queues built up in places such as Marksbury.
Bath and North East Somerset Council, which also reported problems on the road from Keynsham to Burnett, said the worst troublespots were places near fields where snow had melted and run onto the road, and on steep hills.
A spokesman said: "The council will continue to monitor road conditions and will provide additional salting and gritting when required. Motorists are advised to use caution on the roads where black ice maybe a problem."
Meanwhile, the threat of flood chaos in the centre of Bath receded last night after river levels dropped.
Emergency services were on standby yesterday as flooding replaced snow as a new source of disruption in Bath.
The car park at the city’s sports and leisure centre was closed and water was lapping around the edge of The Rec as snow melted and heavy rain fell.
The Avon burst its banks in the city centre but it is not thought any homes in Bath flooded
Pulteney Weir was submerged in water, and fields and the area around the Bathampton Mill pub at Bathampton were also flooded.
The pub was forced to close all day yesterday and is hoping to reopen tonight after a clean-up operation.
Environment Agency official flood warnings today remained in force on the River Avon all the way from Melksham through Bradford on Avon and Bathford to Twerton.
There was major flooding in Swineford, with the A431 road closed last night.
The heavy rain also caused the collapse of a 205-year-old Cotswold stone wall in the centre of Bradford on Avon, blocking Woolley Street.
Resident Sally Hanson found herself trapped upstairs in her property for the fifth time in two years.
The 48-year-old said: "I'm pretty fed up. This is the second time this year, and it happened three times last year. I've lost everything, my washing machine, my tumble dryer, and my big rug. My tables and chairs are all floating.
"I've been here all day. At midday it was coming up the garden. The fire brigade can pump water out of the Swan pub next door but here there's nowhere to pump it to.
"So I'll just have sit and wait. The water has hit the gas meter so there's no heat either. I do have electricity but that may go soon. I've got my dog here and she's been going mad. She'd love to go out for a walk, but she can't."
The Swan, displayed some British pluck and vowed to continued serving despite its car park being beneath two feet of water.
Manager Anthony Martin said yesterday: "People are in here, drinking as normal. It's only really the car park that is affected, although there is some at basement level.
"Although the river is flowing quite roughly and quickly it doesn't seem to be creeping up any more."
A spokesman for B&NES Council said it had been liaising with the police, the agency and health chiefs to assess the risk of flood problems.
Anyone concerned about their property flooding is being advised to contact the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 988 118.
The council says it is also inspecting surfaces damaged by snow and ice.
Avon and Somerset assistant chief constable Jackie Roberts, who chaired the multi-agency flooding meetings yesterday afternoon, said: "The public should be reassured that all the relevant agencies very quickly joined forces to ensure that any required action could be undertaken quickly and effectively."
Nick Lyness, from the Environment Agency, said: "Bath's flood defences have again served their purpose well in protecting numerous properties and infrastructure. Notwithstanding that, however, the situation continues to be monitored."
No more snow is now expected this week, and B&NES Council has been putting extra staff on to rubbish collection rounds as the authority catches up with streets missed last week.
But it has given discretion to crews over how far they go, leading to at least one street in Odd Down having its bins uncollected yesterday.
The council scrapped collections on three days last week, and only had a limited collection on Wednesday.
Its waste staff were diverted into gritting pavements and car parks.
Council leader Cllr Francine Haeberling (Con, Saltford) thanked the public and B&NES staff for their co-operation.
“Departments across Bath and North East Somerset Council have worked around the clock to try and keep the roads and pavements safe, car parks open, and our other 800 services running as normal as possible.
"I would like to thank those staff who have done their level best over the past week to tackle the awful conditions and make them as safe as possible for local residents. Without this work by the council, alongside its partners, the area would have ground to a complete halt. The council was well prepared for the bad weather and our procedures to deal with such circumstances kicked into action immediately, with ongoing monitoring of the weather forecast. I’d also like to thank members of the public who have been patient and understanding during a quite exceptional week.”
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