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| Communities urged to clear snow as disruption continues | Communities urged to clear snow as disruption continues |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish government wants communities to work together this weekend to clear the snow. | The Scottish government wants communities to work together this weekend to clear the snow. |
| Scotland continues to recover from the so-called "Beast from the East" with yellow warnings for snow and wind in place until Monday. | Scotland continues to recover from the so-called "Beast from the East" with yellow warnings for snow and wind in place until Monday. |
| Disruption remains on the roads and rail network. | Disruption remains on the roads and rail network. |
| Ministers have also said councils across Scotland can request emergency funding to deal with the severe impact of recent heavy snowfalls. | Ministers have also said councils across Scotland can request emergency funding to deal with the severe impact of recent heavy snowfalls. |
| They have triggered the Bellwin Scheme, which gives special financial assistance to councils facing extra costs due to disasters or emergencies. | They have triggered the Bellwin Scheme, which gives special financial assistance to councils facing extra costs due to disasters or emergencies. |
| Network Rail said earlier they hoped to reopen the West Coast Main Line on Saturday afternoon. | Network Rail said earlier they hoped to reopen the West Coast Main Line on Saturday afternoon. |
| Virgin Trains still has no services running between Carlisle and Scotland. An hourly service will run between Newcastle and Edinburgh but passengers are urged to only travel if necessary as trains will be busy. | |
| ScotRail said it was "working day and night" to resolve the problems caused by the weather, with limited services running in the central belt. | ScotRail said it was "working day and night" to resolve the problems caused by the weather, with limited services running in the central belt. |
| Airports are open, but passengers are being advised to check the status of their flights before setting off. | Airports are open, but passengers are being advised to check the status of their flights before setting off. |
| Drifting snow is still causing problems and closures on many roads across the country. | |
| In the Borders, an elderly couple had whose remote home was surrounded by 12ft snowdrifts were rescued, along with their two dogs. | |
| They were dug out of their home in West Linton by police officers and mountain rescue teams. | |
| In Stirling, a couple who thought their big day was ruined by the snow had their wedding go-ahead after a last minute change of venue. | |
| ScotRail said services running on Saturday included Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High, Edinburgh to Dundee and Aberdeen and Inverness and Perth, as well as Glasgow Central to Kilmarnock/Ayr/East Kilbride/Newton/Neilston/Larkhall and Sheildmuir and Ayr to Girvan and Stranraer. | |
| Services on Borders Railway and Inverness to Wick remain suspended. | Services on Borders Railway and Inverness to Wick remain suspended. |
| A ScotRail spokesman said: "In some parts of the country there are high winds of up to 40mph, which is causing snow to drift back onto tracks in exposed areas. In many cases our snow ploughs clear a line, only for the snow to drift back as soon as the ploughs move on. | |
| "Freezing temperatures are also causing severe icing on some of our trains and in tunnels. And some local roads remain impassable, making it difficult for our people to get into position to run our trains and staff our stations." | "Freezing temperatures are also causing severe icing on some of our trains and in tunnels. And some local roads remain impassable, making it difficult for our people to get into position to run our trains and staff our stations." |
| Lothian Buses are operating a Sunday service on Saturday and First Greater Glasgow said its buses are in operation with routes continually being assessed. | Lothian Buses are operating a Sunday service on Saturday and First Greater Glasgow said its buses are in operation with routes continually being assessed. |
| In Aberdeenshire, Stagecoach buses said Buchan was the worst affected area and they were unable to run services north of Ellon. | In Aberdeenshire, Stagecoach buses said Buchan was the worst affected area and they were unable to run services north of Ellon. |
| Edinburgh Airport said it was "returning to normal operations". | Edinburgh Airport said it was "returning to normal operations". |
| A spokeswoman added: "We are expecting to fly 84% of our flights today - we had 215 scheduled flights of which 34 have been cancelled. | A spokeswoman added: "We are expecting to fly 84% of our flights today - we had 215 scheduled flights of which 34 have been cancelled. |
| "We encourage passengers to check with their airlines regarding their flight status." | "We encourage passengers to check with their airlines regarding their flight status." |
| Meanwhile, ministers asked for a bit more of the community spirit which has been shown over the past few days. | |
| Many communities have already started to clear the snow in their own areas and the Scottish government is calling for volunteers to help where they can in clearing up local roads and pavements and checking on vulnerable people. | Many communities have already started to clear the snow in their own areas and the Scottish government is calling for volunteers to help where they can in clearing up local roads and pavements and checking on vulnerable people. |
| Rural roads and urban streets are maintained by local authorities but the extent of snow drifts mean areas remain difficult for local people, delivery drivers and pedestrians. | Rural roads and urban streets are maintained by local authorities but the extent of snow drifts mean areas remain difficult for local people, delivery drivers and pedestrians. |
| Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "Local and national services are working together to do all we can to keep our roads clear of snow. However, the situation remains very challenging, particularly in rural and eastern areas of Scotland. | Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: "Local and national services are working together to do all we can to keep our roads clear of snow. However, the situation remains very challenging, particularly in rural and eastern areas of Scotland. |
| "If you have capacity to help neighbours, or are the owner of large vehicles that could assist the clearance work on your local road, I would encourage you to volunteer and look out for vulnerable people." | "If you have capacity to help neighbours, or are the owner of large vehicles that could assist the clearance work on your local road, I would encourage you to volunteer and look out for vulnerable people." |
| A Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice is in force until Monday. This covers most of central, south and east Scotland, as well as Caithness and the Northern Isles. | A Met Office yellow "be aware" warning for snow and ice is in force until Monday. This covers most of central, south and east Scotland, as well as Caithness and the Northern Isles. |
| The Army has already been drafted in to help transport medics to and from Edinburgh's two biggest hospitals after a request from NHS Lothian to the Scottish government and the MoD said it was now also helping NHS staff get to work in the Fife and Tayside areas, using up to 30 vehicles and 60 personnel. | The Army has already been drafted in to help transport medics to and from Edinburgh's two biggest hospitals after a request from NHS Lothian to the Scottish government and the MoD said it was now also helping NHS staff get to work in the Fife and Tayside areas, using up to 30 vehicles and 60 personnel. |
| The extreme weather has seen health boards cancel non-essential operations and outpatient appointments on Friday while NHS 24 has described its operations as being "stretched". | The extreme weather has seen health boards cancel non-essential operations and outpatient appointments on Friday while NHS 24 has described its operations as being "stretched". |
| It has also seen feats of generosity and dedication. | It has also seen feats of generosity and dedication. |
| In East Kilbride, district nurse Louise Lawrie ended up doing a house call on a tractor after getting stuck in the snow visiting the patient's rural home in the Auldhouse area the day before. | In East Kilbride, district nurse Louise Lawrie ended up doing a house call on a tractor after getting stuck in the snow visiting the patient's rural home in the Auldhouse area the day before. |
| Louise, 30, based at Hunter Community Health Centre in East Kilbride, said: "We managed to get hold of local farmer Grant Neilson and he agreed to run me and my occupational therapist colleague through the snow to the patient, who needs to be seen every day." | Louise, 30, based at Hunter Community Health Centre in East Kilbride, said: "We managed to get hold of local farmer Grant Neilson and he agreed to run me and my occupational therapist colleague through the snow to the patient, who needs to be seen every day." |