More snow on way for Hampshire (From Daily Echo)
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Cold weather brings Hampshire and Southampton to a stop once more
3:40pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009 in News
By Sian Davies, Senior News Reporter
Stanmore Way, Winc hester, by Echo reader Holly Houghton, aged 15
FORECASTERS are predicting more snow is on its way for Hampshire despite a thaw in the weather this afternoon.
Despite a brief respite, more heavy snow is being forecast for the early evening and into the night.
The heavy snow showers are expected to start around 6pm and remain for several hours.
Temperatures will drop to around 2 degrees overnight.
However, the Met Office has lifted the severe weather warning for tomorrow that has been in place since Sunday.
The snow is expected to return towards the end of the week.
However, despite the improvement in weather conditions today many people were still feeling the effects of Hampshire's cold snap.
Southampton Airport was closed this morning as a result of the overnight snowfall.
The runway was reopened by 11.45am and airport bosses said eight flights had been cancelled.
They anticipated delays to around 40 flights throughout the rest of the day but passengers were being advised to check in as normal.
Train services were severely hampered by the weather while some road closures remained in place across the county.
One lane of the A35 at the Redbridge flyover out of Southampton was closed after two cars skidded on the ice.
To further hamper motorists, who were braving the journey to work this morning, fog was reported on roads into Hampshire from Dorset.
The fog was set to continue into the night with a hard frost also predicted as temperatures plummet to minus three degrees overnight.
Council services including bin collections were also expected to be disrupted today. The council run Alpine Ski Centre in Southampton was also forced to close in a strange twist as snow on the slopes was deemed too dangerous by health and safety chiefs.
The snow was judged to make the speeds of people using the artificial slopes to quick.
Meanwhile hundreds of schools and colleges remained closed today due to dangerously icy school sites, difficulties with heating systems and staff shortages as teachers, catering and administration staff struggled to make it into work.
Over stretched hospital services were expecting another busy day with accident and emergency units in the county yesterday reporting high numbers of patients with broken bones from slipping on ice.
The rest of the emergency services were also bracing themselves, with police responding to high numbers of anti-social behaviour calls with reports of snowball throwing gangs.
Don’t miss your copy of today’s Daily Echo for full coverage of how the south coped with the worst snow fall in two decades, including pictures of youngsters making the most of their time off school.
The Daily Echo site will update throughout the day with all the latest weather reports, travel and services affected by the weather.
Comments(41)
D'Arcy Sarto
says...
8:31am Tue 3 Feb 09
downfader
says...
9:05am Tue 3 Feb 09
Got on the only bus that turned up, got to bitterne and they cancelled services. Took me an hour to walk from bitterne precinct to sholing. Having another 5 miles journey on foot I didnt fancy I turned back home instead.
Bitterne road, burseldon road and north east road were packed with cars going no where.
Tobeblunt
says...
9:26am Tue 3 Feb 09
churchnill
says...
10:10am Tue 3 Feb 09
When i lived in Germany the winters where hard but nothing but nothing stopped. Crikey even back in the 60's here kids still treked to school people still went to work these days ....................
....??????????
marlskij
says...
10:25am Tue 3 Feb 09
?
As i couldn't go to work monday morn because my road was blocked off due to the roads not being gritted so I had to walk to my sons house, on the way I passed a guy who was stuck and we made comments to each other about the current situation, I said to him I cant beleive the roads haven't been gritted to which he replied that he had been in the pub on sunday night with a guy who drives a gritting trucks and that they had been told not to come in sunday evening!!!!!!
So what I'd like to know is why were they not out??
What do we pay our council tax for???
Why were the public left to suffer???
Is it bad enough that our bosses expect us to risk our lives to come to work in conditions like this but what's is just as bad is the council dont do anything to help!
I live in chandlers Ford and experienced this mayhem, I cant imagine what it was like over the rest of the county!
It's a joke!
Why were
BillyTheKid
says...
10:26am Tue 3 Feb 09
Having seen many heavy snowfalls in Southampton over the last 60 years, this is the first time I have seen widespread disruption over an inch or two. People used to walk to work or school if the roads were impassable - not everybody, obviously, but those who were fit an able made the effort. But with the media getting so excited and advising us all to stay at home, what can you do ?
Actually, I have the deepest sympathy for those people whose lives are so busy and complicated that the added problem of snow just makes it all impossible. Life wasn't like that in the days when we used to brave the weather and walk to work. In some respects the old days were good - certainly better than now.
Ocean Village resident
says...
10:32am Tue 3 Feb 09
You'd be the first to complain if spedning on schools,hospitals and public transport was cut back so money was paid out on snowploughs etc that were used twice every 10 years.
Get real guys. Cur the "Yeah, but they go to work every day in snow in Scandinavia" brigade...
Ozmosis
says...
10:40am Tue 3 Feb 09
southy
says...
10:46am Tue 3 Feb 09
churchnill wrote:schools only closed twice, in the whole 60's, 3 mths in 63/64 winter and a few days in 67/68 winter, the rest of the 60's yes we did go to school and every winter in the 60's was at lest 4 times worse than this one.
This country ought to be ashamed of itself along with Health & Safety, schools closed, buses trains not running people cant be arsed to go to work and a ski slope closed because of snow? what a laughing stock this country is, oh no a few flakes of snow lets grind the country to a halt.
When i lived in Germany the winters where hard but nothing but nothing stopped. Crikey even back in the 60's here kids still treked to school people still went to work these days ....................
....??????????
still the thaw has started, we had rain this morning before it turned to snow, and it looks like more rain coming in now.
goard
says...
10:51am Tue 3 Feb 09
goard
Huffybear
says...
11:01am Tue 3 Feb 09
southy
says...
11:41am Tue 3 Feb 09
Jerry Parsons
says...
11:41am Tue 3 Feb 09
That's where the worst problem lies....
lowe and behold
says...
11:52am Tue 3 Feb 09
BillyTheKid wrote:Sky news were just as bad every 5 seconds they were reporting a flake of snow dropping all over the country!
Can't help but feel the BBC are at the root of the disruption, not so much the snow. The news broadcasts were full of the usual exageration that we get when they don't have a plane crash or a new war to report. Having seen many heavy snowfalls in Southampton over the last 60 years, this is the first time I have seen widespread disruption over an inch or two. People used to walk to work or school if the roads were impassable - not everybody, obviously, but those who were fit an able made the effort. But with the media getting so excited and advising us all to stay at home, what can you do ? Actually, I have the deepest sympathy for those people whose lives are so busy and complicated that the added problem of snow just makes it all impossible. Life wasn't like that in the days when we used to brave the weather and walk to work. In some respects the old days were good - certainly better than now.
Bambi
says...
12:01pm Tue 3 Feb 09
southy wrote:Probably because they get fed up explaining it to people who simply have no chance of ever being able to understand.
i noticed that the global warming lot are keeping there heads down.
southy
says...
12:05pm Tue 3 Feb 09
hulla baloo
says...
12:09pm Tue 3 Feb 09
He is looking for a way to revive the ailing motor industry, and thought a few smashed cars may result in extra sales.
downfader
says...
12:22pm Tue 3 Feb 09
southy wrote:Global warming and climate change are two different things btw ;-)
lol bambi what is there to understand, lets face it the global warming lot are just greenies that what there way, and no other way.
Scientists investigate climate change, hippies drone on about global warming ;-P
Makes me laugh when people accuse me of being a hippy or a greenie for being on two wheels. My political stance is probably more right wing that theirs (not to the extent of Nazism/BNP cr*p obviously)
Oh and the climate has changed, if you imagine those puzzles with the squares you shift around, thats how it works, our square stays the same whilst some of the others get moved about.
Its a bit more complicated than that, and even I dont understand it tbh, LMAO!
Bright Spark
says...
12:25pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Bambi wrote:Poor global warming gets the blame for most things these days, including the 'Arctic' weather. Personally I blame Margaret Thatcher, she started all of this stuff during the Winter of Discontent in 1978/79 - it's like deja vous with this big freeze, strikes and riots (well the riots haven't started yet but watch this space).
southy wrote: i noticed that the global warming lot are keeping there heads down.Probably because they get fed up explaining it to people who simply have no chance of ever being able to understand.
BillyTheKid
says...
12:30pm Tue 3 Feb 09
As we have not seen conditons like this for 18 years, I would imagine the Highways Dept have probably not got the resources to deal with the problem, ie not enough salt and grit, gritter vehicles, and general experience of what to do.
mummietotwo
says...
12:44pm Tue 3 Feb 09
I managed to get from Sholing to town to work, though I waited for mu bus for nearly an hour as it did not turn up, and then had to drive. And yes there a lot of people who do not know how to drive in these conditions.
Paul R-F
says...
2:22pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Jerry Parsons wrote:Absolutely spot-on. I saw numerous women sliding all over the place this morning, they seem to have no idea how to brake gently, or how to approach a corner when the road is icy or snowy.
Got to work with no driving problems today, mainly because of the great job the gritting guys did...but did get held up by people who didn't have a clue how to drive on snow or ice. That's where the worst problem lies....
Mr E
says...
2:25pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Hospitals in particular have been using every trick in the book to force staff into using busses to get to work
Then as soon as it Snows and the busses dissapear the hospitals put out a request that all staff make every effort to get to work
gorf
says...
2:39pm Tue 3 Feb 09
There were cars and busses that got stuck on the hill!!
KA
says...
2:42pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Paul R-F wrote:I know, you wouldn't see a man doing that would you, there all expert drivers.
Jerry Parsons wrote:Absolutely spot-on. I saw numerous women sliding all over the place this morning, they seem to have no idea how to brake gently, or how to approach a corner when the road is icy or snowy.
Got to work with no driving problems today, mainly because of the great job the gritting guys did...but did get held up by people who didn't have a clue how to drive on snow or ice. That's where the worst problem lies....
Paul R-F
says...
2:50pm Tue 3 Feb 09
KA wrote:I wouldn't go quite that far, but based on my experience of driving around over the last couple of days, I would agree that men appear to be able to adapt their driving style more appropriately than women.
Paul R-F wrote:I know, you wouldn't see a man doing that would you, there all expert drivers.Jerry Parsons wrote: Got to work with no driving problems today, mainly because of the great job the gritting guys did...but did get held up by people who didn't have a clue how to drive on snow or ice. That's where the worst problem lies....Absolutely spot-on. I saw numerous women sliding all over the place this morning, they seem to have no idea how to brake gently, or how to approach a corner when the road is icy or snowy.
BillyTheKid
says...
3:04pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Most men AND women under 36 will not have had much experience of driving in these conditions over the last 18 years here in the south.
I suspect, if you investigate, that the vast majority of convictions for driving without due care and attention are commited by men. If I ever grumpily curse a woman driver in front of me it is usually because she is exercising caution. No, most women drivers are excellent because they have children on board much of the time. Driving carefully comes naturally to them.
KA
says...
3:12pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Paul R-F wrote:Lol i was being a bit sarcastic there.
KA wrote:I wouldn't go quite that far, but based on my experience of driving around over the last couple of days, I would agree that men appear to be able to adapt their driving style more appropriately than women.
Paul R-F wrote:I know, you wouldn't see a man doing that would you, there all expert drivers.Jerry Parsons wrote: Got to work with no driving problems today, mainly because of the great job the gritting guys did...but did get held up by people who didn't have a clue how to drive on snow or ice. That's where the worst problem lies....Absolutely spot-on. I saw numerous women sliding all over the place this morning, they seem to have no idea how to brake gently, or how to approach a corner when the road is icy or snowy.
Paul R-F
says...
3:33pm Tue 3 Feb 09
BillyTheKid wrote:IMHO, it is a rather sexist, old fashioned attitude to suggest that women usually have children with them. Modern men take a full parenting role these days.
Brake ? In snow ? I think you are supposed to use gears to slow a vehicle in ice and snow. Most men AND women under 36 will not have had much experience of driving in these conditions over the last 18 years here in the south. I suspect, if you investigate, that the vast majority of convictions for driving without due care and attention are commited by men. If I ever grumpily curse a woman driver in front of me it is usually because she is exercising caution. No, most women drivers are excellent because they have children on board much of the time. Driving carefully comes naturally to them.
Lone Ranger
says...
3:42pm Tue 3 Feb 09
The snow was judged to make the speeds of people using the artificial slopes to quick""
Are they having a laugh or wahat!!
Perhaps that should put grit on the slopes. There must be loads about as there is none on the roads
allsaintsnocurves
says...
4:20pm Tue 3 Feb 09
churchnill wrote:Well Germany is not the same country as Britain. People here don't have as many days holiday as anywhere else in Europe of the world. My friend works in Luxembourg and has 50 days holiday! I think with that many you would expect people to show up to work whatever the conditions!!
This country ought to be ashamed of itself along with Health & Safety, schools closed, buses trains not running people cant be arsed to go to work and a ski slope closed because of snow? what a laughing stock this country is, oh no a few flakes of snow lets grind the country to a halt. When i lived in Germany the winters where hard but nothing but nothing stopped. Crikey even back in the 60's here kids still treked to school people still went to work these days .................... ....??????????
You are comparing apples with oranges though!
southy
says...
4:56pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Smiley69
says...
6:10pm Tue 3 Feb 09
janea
says...
8:32pm Tue 3 Feb 09
I did not make this choice to indulge in any lazy habits, for the holidays or the 'short' hours. In fact, anyone who can make those ignorant accusations has clearly never been or known a teacher.
I for one was ready and willing to travel to work this week and have actually found it quite concerning that I have lost important teaching time with my year 11's who have life changing exams in a matter of months and whose results I will have to justify if they fail to meet their targets. I, however, am powerless to stop the forces of nature, mend broken boilers and pipes and prevent traffic accidents that occur as a result of the snow.
Rather than being a 'lazy arse' taecher as some very eloquent member of the public posted earlier, I have spent the last two days planning my lessons, making resources, marking work and researching upcoming topics of study. This happens to be what I spend most of my time doing as teaching is a profession rather than a job that you can leave behind when you leave the building.
I'm tired of hearing that teachers don't deserve the 'holidays'. People don't seem to realise that these 'holidays' are quite often spent working in school or at home, running easter schools or in preparing for the coming term. I know of no other profession that has to justify itself to so many, so much of the time.
Anyone who thinks it's an easy job to keep 30 children in check, participating, learning and generally behaving at any one time should give it a go and then see if you need a break after 8 weeks!
It's no wonder that teachers are shown little respect sometimes from the pupils when it is clear that their elders are of the same mindset.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers and yet is undoubtedly one of the most stressful which is why the average life expectancy for a teacher after retirement is only 2 years! Good job they get all those holidays eh?
Hythe
says...
8:49pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Enjoy it while it lasts
Ps. I also had to travel to work but was grateful I got their ok.
janea
says...
8:57pm Tue 3 Feb 09
Martin Wellbourne
says...
9:39pm Tue 3 Feb 09
damien thorn
says...
11:33pm Tue 3 Feb 09
lesleylb
says...
11:13am Wed 4 Feb 09
southy
says...
12:34pm Wed 4 Feb 09
Martin Wellbourne wrote:oh, what did no one tell them there was snow on the ground.:-)
Two local independent schools managed to open on Monday and Tuesday. Now how did they manage 85% pupils and 85% staff - with a catchment covering Hampshire and parts of Wiltshire?
greatwhitenorth
says...
7:42pm Wed 4 Feb 09
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