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| Salt supply low as freeze goes on | Salt supply low as freeze goes on |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Salt reserves at councils across Wales are said to be dangerously low with some local authorities expecting to run out over the weekend. | Salt reserves at councils across Wales are said to be dangerously low with some local authorities expecting to run out over the weekend. |
| Weather forecasters predict no let-up in conditions for another 10 days, leaving councils battling to keep roads open and maintain services. | Weather forecasters predict no let-up in conditions for another 10 days, leaving councils battling to keep roads open and maintain services. |
| Drivers face widespread ice after falling temperatures overnight. | Drivers face widespread ice after falling temperatures overnight. |
| Business leaders say the big freeze is putting a fragile recovery in the retail economy at risk. | Business leaders say the big freeze is putting a fragile recovery in the retail economy at risk. |
| Some schools have already said they will close on Monday, although a few say they will be open for pupils sitting exams. | |
| List of schools due to be closed in Wales on Monday 11 January | List of schools due to be closed in Wales on Monday 11 January |
| Many Sunday church and chapel services have also been called off. | Many Sunday church and chapel services have also been called off. |
| Caerphilly, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils say they will have run out of salt by Monday if deliveries do not arrive over the weekend. | Caerphilly, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils say they will have run out of salt by Monday if deliveries do not arrive over the weekend. |
| In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the council is diverting all available staff to gritting work. | In Rhondda Cynon Taf, the council is diverting all available staff to gritting work. |
| A spokesman said: "Everyone from parks, building services etc, whose normal jobs have been disrupted, have been put on to additional gritting crews and on JCBs and refuse teams to keep critical routes and operations going." | A spokesman said: "Everyone from parks, building services etc, whose normal jobs have been disrupted, have been put on to additional gritting crews and on JCBs and refuse teams to keep critical routes and operations going." |
| People aren't leaving their homes to spend their money, and retailers are finding it hard to get resupplied South Wales Chamber of Commerce | People aren't leaving their homes to spend their money, and retailers are finding it hard to get resupplied South Wales Chamber of Commerce |
| Officials in nearby Torfaen warn a "selfish minority" are jeopardising everyone's safety by taking more than their fair share of grit, while supplies are critically low, at 700 tons or just two days' supply. | Officials in nearby Torfaen warn a "selfish minority" are jeopardising everyone's safety by taking more than their fair share of grit, while supplies are critically low, at 700 tons or just two days' supply. |
| A spokesperson said: "The council has received reports of people turning up in large vehicles or vans and practically emptying grit bins within minutes of them being filled. | A spokesperson said: "The council has received reports of people turning up in large vehicles or vans and practically emptying grit bins within minutes of them being filled. |
| "Grit bins are strategically located and individuals taking advantage of the situation by removing increasingly limited supplies are putting vulnerable people at risk, particularly the elderly or disabled." | "Grit bins are strategically located and individuals taking advantage of the situation by removing increasingly limited supplies are putting vulnerable people at risk, particularly the elderly or disabled." |
| In Gwynedd, around 37% of the county's roads are pre-treated with salt and grit - this is around 670 miles. | In Gwynedd, around 37% of the county's roads are pre-treated with salt and grit - this is around 670 miles. |
| Skiers at the Pontypool artificial ski slope were able to ski on snow | Skiers at the Pontypool artificial ski slope were able to ski on snow |
| Gwyn Morris Jones, Gwynedd council's head of Highways and Municipal, said: "It takes around four hours to treat Gwynedd's primary routes. | Gwyn Morris Jones, Gwynedd council's head of Highways and Municipal, said: "It takes around four hours to treat Gwynedd's primary routes. |
| "Unfortunately, when it snows, the gritting teams can get caught up in the same traffic problems as everyone else, which slows down their work. | "Unfortunately, when it snows, the gritting teams can get caught up in the same traffic problems as everyone else, which slows down their work. |
| "Despite having a full capacity supply of salt in our barns at the beginning of the winter season our salt stock has reduced significantly as the council's gritting teams have now been in action in all but two days during the past month. | "Despite having a full capacity supply of salt in our barns at the beginning of the winter season our salt stock has reduced significantly as the council's gritting teams have now been in action in all but two days during the past month. |
| "Because our rock salt supplier has recently been unable to supply a significant quantity replacement stocks Gwynedd, like many councils throughout the UK, will be concentrating on gritting first priority routes for the time being." | "Because our rock salt supplier has recently been unable to supply a significant quantity replacement stocks Gwynedd, like many councils throughout the UK, will be concentrating on gritting first priority routes for the time being." |
| Hospital across the country have experienced a rise in the number of patients who have experienced bone fractures. | Hospital across the country have experienced a rise in the number of patients who have experienced bone fractures. |
| One of those was Ruth Cooper, 73, who fell and broke her leg on untreated pavements in Knighton, Powys, had to wait more than two hours to be rescued because grit bins in her estate had been emptied and the roads were too treacherous for the ambulance to reach her. | One of those was Ruth Cooper, 73, who fell and broke her leg on untreated pavements in Knighton, Powys, had to wait more than two hours to be rescued because grit bins in her estate had been emptied and the roads were too treacherous for the ambulance to reach her. |
| Hywel Dda Health Board in west Wales is using 4x4 vehicles to make emergency deliveries to patients who need critical or essential medication in the worst affected areas. | Hywel Dda Health Board in west Wales is using 4x4 vehicles to make emergency deliveries to patients who need critical or essential medication in the worst affected areas. |
| Meanwhile, South Wales Chamber of Commerce said the freeze is endangering the traditional January sales. | Meanwhile, South Wales Chamber of Commerce said the freeze is endangering the traditional January sales. |
| A spokesperson said: "People aren't leaving their homes to spend their money, and retailers are finding it hard to get resupplied." | A spokesperson said: "People aren't leaving their homes to spend their money, and retailers are finding it hard to get resupplied." |
| However, Monmouth businessman John Jones said the extended cold spell had boosted online sales of his "Welsh Wellies," emblazoned with the red dragon. | However, Monmouth businessman John Jones said the extended cold spell had boosted online sales of his "Welsh Wellies," emblazoned with the red dragon. |
| The boots are being ordered faster than he and his wife can pack and dispatch them. | The boots are being ordered faster than he and his wife can pack and dispatch them. |
| Abandoned pets | Abandoned pets |
| He said: "The only problem I've got is that the wellies are manufactured in China, and they're pretty much shutting down for Chinese New Year through most of February. | He said: "The only problem I've got is that the wellies are manufactured in China, and they're pretty much shutting down for Chinese New Year through most of February. |
| "So when I've sold out the current stock, that's it until March." | "So when I've sold out the current stock, that's it until March." |
| RSPB Cymru is urging people to put out extra tit-bits for birds as snow and ice cover natural sources of food, while the RSPCA animal sanctuary in Upper Colywn Bay, Conwy, is appealing for donations of blankets and non-feather duvets to keep warm abandoned pets. | RSPB Cymru is urging people to put out extra tit-bits for birds as snow and ice cover natural sources of food, while the RSPCA animal sanctuary in Upper Colywn Bay, Conwy, is appealing for donations of blankets and non-feather duvets to keep warm abandoned pets. |