Update on adverse weather conditions

8 January 2010

More than 200 schools and children's centres across Cornwall are closed today as a result of the adverse weather conditions. As of 11 am this morning 201 primary and secondary schools and children's centres across the county had made the decision to close.

The council is continuing to work closely with its partners in the police, health and voluntary and community sector to ensure that vital services are maintained and that vulnerable people receive support during this time.

The Council is also encouraging people to be good neighbours and check on elderly or vulnerable people living in their local communities to see if they need any help or support.

The council's 25 gritters carried out precautionary salting runs on all the county's A and B roads during the late afternoon and early evening. Highways staff then monitoring the weather situation throughout the night, with crews sent to carry out a second precautionary salting run on roads in West Cornwall in the early hours of the morning.

75 gangs are also continuing to work across the county to ensure that routes into villages are clear and to treat footways in the main towns where possible.

Although the Council is continuing to carry out precautionary salting on the major roads, the very low temperatures the county is currently experiencing is reducing the effectiveness of the salt in preventing ice forming on road surfaces.

Under normal conditions the salt melts any snow and ice present on the surface of the roads" said Simon Deacon, Highways Operations Manager. "However, the effectiveness of salt is greatly reduced when applied to surfaces with a temperature of less than -6 degrees. At present, we are experiencing road surface temperatures of -10 degrees in some places which is reducing the effectiveness of the salting treatment.

"In addition, the snow falls we experienced yesterday means that in some areas the salt has been applied to already frozen roads, with further snow then falling and freezing on top. This makes the whole winter maintenance operation very difficult and repetitive for little or no lasting results.

"We are currently mixing grit with the salt to assist in the breakup of ice and snow. High volumes of traffic help break down compacted snow and ice. Because of these factors some of salt and grit being spread is having little effect".

"It is not possible in these weather conditions to expect all the county's roads to be free from ice and snow" said Simon Deacon.

"When travelling, please ensure that you give yourself more time to make your journeys and should drive at speeds appropriate to the road conditions."

The council is also experiencing problems keeping its grit bins filled up. Although Highways crews are doing their best to keep bins topped up, in many areas they are being emptied faster than they can get to them.

"Grit bins are there to enable members of the public to carry out self help on roads which are off the main road network and which are considered to be "high risk" said Simon Deacon. "Unfortunately in some areas members of the public appear to be removing the salt and grit to use on their driveways which means that the grit is not available for use on the roads. "

"While we appreciate the problems that many people are experiencing in their local areas, we would ask them to refrain from removing the mixture from the bins for their private use".

The icy conditions are also affecting a number of libraries, one stop shops and leisure centres across Cornwall.

Callington Library will be closed all day and Redruth mobile library van will not be going out . Bude Library and One Stop Shop is open today but will be closing at 4pm. Penzance Library , the Reference and Information Library, and Camborne Library will also be closing at 4pm today .

The adverse weather conditions are affecting waste and recycling collections in Cornwall as many areas are inaccessible for vehicles and to collection staff.

Cornwall Council is reviewing the situation daily and endeavouring to collect as much waste and recycling as possible where it is safe to do so. Where collections cannot be carried out safely, residents are asked to take their waste and recycling back in and put it out on the next scheduled collection date. The Council apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

Former Carrick area:

Waste collections limited collection only on the main roads for today's routes and from the past three days, where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Recycling collections limited collection only on the main roads for today's routes and from the past three days, where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Former Restormel area:

Waste collections limited collection around the St Austell area only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas). There are no collections operating in the Newquay area today.

Recycling collections limited collection around the St Austell area only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas). There are no collections operating in the Newquay area today.

Former North Cornwall area:

Waste collections limited collection only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Recycling collections are fortnightly and none were scheduled for this week, so the service is unaffected

Former Caradon area:

Waste collections limited collection only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Recycling collections in Looe, Polperro, Pelynt, Polruan, Lerryn etc, but limited collection only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Former Kerrier area:

Waste collections limited collection only where safe to do so (except in inaccessible areas)

Recycling collections cancelled

Former Penwith area:

Waste collections cancelled

Recycling collections cancelled

All Household Waste Recycling Centres are open throughout Cornwall today.

Further information on waste and recycling issues are available from Mike Beckett, Waste Collection Contract Manager, 01208 262807.

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Note to editors

Cornwall Council is responsible for over 7,520 kilometres (4,530 miles) of road from major principal roads to narrow country lanes. It currently spends more than £1.35m keeping roads open and safe during the winter months.

With one of the largest road networks in the country to deal with, it is not possible for the Council to pre salt all the roads in the county. The Highways Service has, therefore, identified a priority list of routes based on the Code of Practice used by all highways authorities in the UK. This includes the most heavily trafficked roads in the county, access to key sites such as hospitals, minor injury units and fire stations, and B roads which are not included in the list above. This comprises some 1,400km of road in Cornwall - approximately 20% of the total road network.

Salting of roads is a precautionary treatment to reduce the freezing point of water in frosty conditions and is designed to reduce the possibility of skidding or more serious accidents. However even on pre treated roads salting will not stop heavy snow from settling and sleet, hail and rain can cause problems with the salt being washed off the road. It will also not prevent the formation of black ice when rain falls on sub zero roads.