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| Grit shortage fears during snow | Grit shortage fears during snow |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Grit supplies are running low in many councils across Wales as more warnings of snow and icy conditions are forecast. | Grit supplies are running low in many councils across Wales as more warnings of snow and icy conditions are forecast. |
| A severe weather warning remains in place for each of Wales' 22 counties after sub-zero temperatures left roads icy on Tuesday morning. | A severe weather warning remains in place for each of Wales' 22 counties after sub-zero temperatures left roads icy on Tuesday morning. |
| More than 300 schools were closed due to the bad weather. | More than 300 schools were closed due to the bad weather. |
| Two hundred pupils were stranded at their school in Denbighshire because snow caused gridlock in the town. | |
| The school, Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, closed at 1300 GMT but buses got stuck in traffic following the sudden snowfall. | |
| By 1920 GMT most were able to leave by bus and three remaining pupils were due to be picked up by their parents. | |
| Meanwhile, workers at Airbus in Broughton were sent home and employees working the nightshift on Tuesday were advised to stay away because of the poor weather conditions. | Meanwhile, workers at Airbus in Broughton were sent home and employees working the nightshift on Tuesday were advised to stay away because of the poor weather conditions. |
| The company said it would be open for "business as usual" on Wednesday. | The company said it would be open for "business as usual" on Wednesday. |
| The assembly government said it would free up road salt from its reserves to help local authorities running low. | The assembly government said it would free up road salt from its reserves to help local authorities running low. |
| The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said some councils had only two to three days of gritting supplies left, while Powys council warned that it was on the verge of running out. | The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said some councils had only two to three days of gritting supplies left, while Powys council warned that it was on the verge of running out. |
| Police advised people to travel only if it was "absolutely essential". | Police advised people to travel only if it was "absolutely essential". |
| The A55 in north Wales was described as treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold proved impassable on Tuesday afternoon. | The A55 in north Wales was described as treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold proved impassable on Tuesday afternoon. |
| The Met Office has updated its forecast with a flash warning of heavy snow on Tuesday afternoon for Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Wrexham, giving up to a further 5cm (2in) in places. | The Met Office has updated its forecast with a flash warning of heavy snow on Tuesday afternoon for Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Wrexham, giving up to a further 5cm (2in) in places. |
| An early warning of heavy snowfall in south east Wales has also been issued, advising that 5-10cm (2-4in) is expected widely, with locally 10-15cm (4-6in) in Newport and Monmouthshire. | An early warning of heavy snowfall in south east Wales has also been issued, advising that 5-10cm (2-4in) is expected widely, with locally 10-15cm (4-6in) in Newport and Monmouthshire. |
| Salting and gritting | Salting and gritting |
| There is a moderate risk of more than 25cm (10in) of snow in a few places. | There is a moderate risk of more than 25cm (10in) of snow in a few places. |
| The WLGA said councils were helping each other out with supplies of gritting and salt although the "unprecedented scale of continuous salting and gritting" meant that main routes had to be given priority. | The WLGA said councils were helping each other out with supplies of gritting and salt although the "unprecedented scale of continuous salting and gritting" meant that main routes had to be given priority. |
| Chief executive Steve Thomas said: "Despite some media reports, there are no substantial reserves of salt in any parts of Wales and councils are largely reliant on deliveries from the Salt Union plant at Winsford in Cheshire. | Chief executive Steve Thomas said: "Despite some media reports, there are no substantial reserves of salt in any parts of Wales and councils are largely reliant on deliveries from the Salt Union plant at Winsford in Cheshire. |
| "This plant is working at capacity but with the cold spell looking set to continue the reality is that there could be problems in matching supply with demand over the forthcoming period. | "This plant is working at capacity but with the cold spell looking set to continue the reality is that there could be problems in matching supply with demand over the forthcoming period. |
| The cold spell is now putting gritting supplies under pressure, say councils | The cold spell is now putting gritting supplies under pressure, say councils |
| "The extended cold spell could mean that in many local authority areas the salting of secondary routes will need to be restricted to ensure that primary routes are kept open with the stock that is available. | "The extended cold spell could mean that in many local authority areas the salting of secondary routes will need to be restricted to ensure that primary routes are kept open with the stock that is available. |
| "At the same time, matching the capacity of hauliers and salt suppliers to continue to reach council depots to restock them is also dependent on weather conditions and logistics." | "At the same time, matching the capacity of hauliers and salt suppliers to continue to reach council depots to restock them is also dependent on weather conditions and logistics." |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government fully understood the pressures local authorities were under due to the severe weather. | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government fully understood the pressures local authorities were under due to the severe weather. |
| He added: "We will do what we can to assist those who require additional stocks of salt on a priority basis, even though the government's responsibility is to maintain the trunk road network." | He added: "We will do what we can to assist those who require additional stocks of salt on a priority basis, even though the government's responsibility is to maintain the trunk road network." |
| In Powys, the county council warned that its reserves of road salt were "critically low" and could run out if the severe weather continued. | In Powys, the county council warned that its reserves of road salt were "critically low" and could run out if the severe weather continued. |
| The council said it normally carried stocks of about 14,000 tonnes of salt spread throughout 11 depots. | The council said it normally carried stocks of about 14,000 tonnes of salt spread throughout 11 depots. |
| But a decision was taken in November to increase this and depots were stocked up in December. | But a decision was taken in November to increase this and depots were stocked up in December. |
| A spokesman said: "The long period of continually freezing conditions has meant that we have used almost 13,000 tonnes of salt on the roads during December. | A spokesman said: "The long period of continually freezing conditions has meant that we have used almost 13,000 tonnes of salt on the roads during December. |
| "This compares with an average over the last five years of around 5,000 tonnes for the same period." | "This compares with an average over the last five years of around 5,000 tonnes for the same period." |
| In Swansea, highways officials criticised "selfish individuals" who emptied grit bins of minutes after they were filled up with salt. | In Swansea, highways officials criticised "selfish individuals" who emptied grit bins of minutes after they were filled up with salt. |
| The city council said it had received calls from residents who witnessed vans pull up to grit bins in a number of streets and empty them. | The city council said it had received calls from residents who witnessed vans pull up to grit bins in a number of streets and empty them. |
| Meanwhile, Flintshire council said a grit bin was stolen in Buckley. It was replaced and then the salt was stolen. | Meanwhile, Flintshire council said a grit bin was stolen in Buckley. It was replaced and then the salt was stolen. |
| "We are aware that people use salt from salt heaps and grit bins for their own private accesses on a regular basis." | "We are aware that people use salt from salt heaps and grit bins for their own private accesses on a regular basis." |
| Roads 'treacherous and impassable' | Roads 'treacherous and impassable' |
| The weather has affected travel and services, with coastguard four-wheel drive vehicles brought in to help police and ambulance crews in north Wales. | The weather has affected travel and services, with coastguard four-wheel drive vehicles brought in to help police and ambulance crews in north Wales. |
| A police spokesman said: "The A55 dual carriageway is treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold are proving impassable." | A police spokesman said: "The A55 dual carriageway is treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold are proving impassable." |
| Bus services were cancelled in Denbighshire. | Bus services were cancelled in Denbighshire. |
| Ceredigion council reported its social services department was struggling to provide its usual home assistance services because of staff shortages caused by the disruption on the roads. | Ceredigion council reported its social services department was struggling to provide its usual home assistance services because of staff shortages caused by the disruption on the roads. |
| Day centres for older people were all closed on Tuedsay and some meals on wheels deliveries were affected because of the danger to volunteer drivers. | Day centres for older people were all closed on Tuedsay and some meals on wheels deliveries were affected because of the danger to volunteer drivers. |
| Flights between Anglesey and Cardiff have been cancelled for Wednesday morning, with a decision on afternoon flights to be made in the morning, Highland Airways announced. | Flights between Anglesey and Cardiff have been cancelled for Wednesday morning, with a decision on afternoon flights to be made in the morning, Highland Airways announced. |