Chelmsford News
Business as usual despite the snow
4:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012
A WINTRY grip took hold of the county this weekend, but in Chelmsford it was business as usual with many schools staying open.
Despite several inches of snow falling overnight on Saturday and hazardous driving conditions caused by black ice and slush, the majority of the borough’s schools were open on Monday as normal.
Some opted for a later start time and many after school activities were cancelled so students could get home earlier and safely, but the number of full closures was significantly less compared to when Essex was hit by heavy snowfall last winter.
The only exceptions in Chelmsford were Thriftwood School, in Slades Lane, Galleywood, Moulsham Infant and Junior Schools, in Princes Road, and St John Payne Catholic School, in Patching Hall Lane, which were all closed.
Stephen Castle, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for education and 2012, said: “I want to say a big thank you to those schools and their staff for making it in today despite the freezing temperatures and severe weather conditions.
“It is a shame there are a few which had to close but I’m sure the decision to do so would have been a last resort.
“Schools have a responsibility to pupils and their parents to provide education and wherever possible I would encourage schools to stay open to fulfil this obligation.”
Essex County Council’s gritting fleet was praised for keeping traffic moving and main roads clear during the first few freezing days of February, and ambulance response times during the weekend were also the best in the history of the East of England Ambulance Service Trust during bad weather.
Staff worked round the clock to manage with the 20 per cent increase in calls.
It’s not all good news though. The big freeze is showing little sign of relenting with sub-zero temperatures set to bring more misery to commuters up and down the country in the coming days.
Motorists taking to the roads have been warned to expect hazardous driving conditions again with ice and freezing fog forecast across parts of the UK.