Schools closed as snow causes road chaos

Feb 26 2010 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

HEAVY snow brought more mayhem to Paisley yesterday as drivers struggled on treacherous roads into and out of town.

A 10-minute journey from Foxbar was taking up to an hour as traffic tailed back for miles.

While children jumped for joy as their schools closed for the day, motorists had to abandon cars trapped in up to eight inches of snow in places.

Eleven secondary and primary schools had shut their doors by lunchtime followed by a family centre and three nurseries.

And residents living close to the Spencer Drive area of Foxbar, were wakened by a loud explosion around 2am as heavy snow brought down a power cable and blacked out around 250 homes.

The 11,000-volt cable hit a parked car but a spokeswoman for Scottish Power said as soon as it snapped the power would have automatically tripped out and it wouldnt have been live.

One driver caught up in the chaos said: Its crazy out here. Ive never seen anything like this. Cars, lorries and buses are sliding all over the place. On some major roads its gridlock.

A major BT line at Braehead Road, Glenburn, also snapped through the weight of snow and that knocked out a large number of telephones.

Cars were abandoned all over Renfrewshire on roads and in driveways where snow was above tyre level.

Trains were cancelled and delayed because of overhanging branches near Milliken Park Station which were touching live overhead cables.

Other roads were like skating rinks and deep in snow and slush including Brediland Road, Foxbar Road and Gleniffer Road.

The Braes road was passable with extreme care.

Gritters were out during the night and the morning rush hour.

Buses and cars taking kids to school slithered and skidded off roads. Amochrie Road was closed for a time after a bus was stuck on the snow.

The bleak winter picture was much the same in Johnstone, Renfrew, Howwood, Houston, Lochwinnoch and neighbouring communities.

A car plunged into a ditch at Lochwinnoch, parts of Ranfurly Road and Prieston Road, Bridge of Weir, had cars abandoned.

A fallen tree blocked a road on the outskirts of Kilbarchan and a bus broke down in Main Street, Howwood.

On Aurs Road, Barrhead, traffic was held up and speed reduced to just 10mph.

The schools which closed in the Paisley area yesterday were Gleniffer High and St Andrews Academy, Paisley; Clippens School in Linwood, and Johnstone High. They are all expected to be open today.

Local nurseries St Catherines, Hollybush, both Paisley, and Our Lady of Peace, Linwood, which also shut yesterday are hoping to be back in business today.

St Lukes, Barrhead High, and primaries Auchenback, Neilston, Springhill, St Marks and St Thomas which also closed along with the Madras Family Centre in Neilston should be open today.

A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said: Ten gritting vehicles and snowploughs were used along with the now well-established use of vehicles belonging to six farmers to clear snow in rural areas such as those around Lochwinnoch.

Another eight JCBs and tractors were hired from private operators to help in the gritting and snow-ploughing operation.

Its anticipated that all schools will re-open as normal today.

A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council said: Conditions are particularly bad and our road crews have been out all night treating main routes.

Snow ploughs are also out and are being hampered by abandoned vehicles.

The snowy weather is set to continue today and brighten up tomorrow according to the Met Office.

Today, the band of rain and hill snow will start to move south and be replaced by drier and brighter conditions.

However, it will turn cold again this evening with widespread frosts overnight. The maximum temperature today will stay around three degrees.

Tomorrow, the weather will be mainly dry and bright with Sunday becoming cloudier and the odd light snow flurry could be possible.