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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Warning as freeze begins to thaw | Warning as freeze begins to thaw |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Environment agency Sepa has warned that water locked up in snow cover could cause flooding as the freeze turns to thaw in parts of Scotland. | Environment agency Sepa has warned that water locked up in snow cover could cause flooding as the freeze turns to thaw in parts of Scotland. |
| Sepa said if warmer weather also brought significant rain it would cause rapid run off into streams and rivers. | Sepa said if warmer weather also brought significant rain it would cause rapid run off into streams and rivers. |
| Scottish Water said it received about 9,000 calls on Monday from people with burst pipes. | |
| Meanwhile, the transport minister said public transport had risen to the challenge but lessons would be learned. | Meanwhile, the transport minister said public transport had risen to the challenge but lessons would be learned. |
| Stewart Stevenson said funding issues associated with the extra work brought on by the cold spell would be discussed with councils. | Stewart Stevenson said funding issues associated with the extra work brought on by the cold spell would be discussed with councils. |
| Education Secretary Michael Russell also praised the work of schools, council staff, parents and others who helped get schools open during the severe weather. | Education Secretary Michael Russell also praised the work of schools, council staff, parents and others who helped get schools open during the severe weather. |
| He was visiting Humbie Primary in East Lothian as the government highlighted that 99% of Scottish schools were open on Tuesday. | He was visiting Humbie Primary in East Lothian as the government highlighted that 99% of Scottish schools were open on Tuesday. |
| This week has seen the deep freeze which has been gripping the country for several weeks beginning to ease. | This week has seen the deep freeze which has been gripping the country for several weeks beginning to ease. |
| I was passed from pillar to post and there was a lack of responsibility on Scottish Water's part Gillian ChristieCentrum Office building manager | I was passed from pillar to post and there was a lack of responsibility on Scottish Water's part Gillian ChristieCentrum Office building manager |
| The situation has presented new challenges, with Sepa highlighting a new risk of flooding. | The situation has presented new challenges, with Sepa highlighting a new risk of flooding. |
| "There is clearly a considerable volume of rainfall equivalent locked up in the extensive snow cover which, in many cases, is overlying frozen ground and has the potential to contribute to flooding," a spokesman said. | "There is clearly a considerable volume of rainfall equivalent locked up in the extensive snow cover which, in many cases, is overlying frozen ground and has the potential to contribute to flooding," a spokesman said. |
| "The pattern of thaw will depend very much on the weather at the end of the present cold spell... if warmer weather also brings significant rain, this will add to melting snow lying on frozen ground and cause rapid run off into streams and rivers. | "The pattern of thaw will depend very much on the weather at the end of the present cold spell... if warmer weather also brings significant rain, this will add to melting snow lying on frozen ground and cause rapid run off into streams and rivers. |
| "Without a sudden rise in temperature and heavy rain, risk of serious flooding is low at the moment, although there is the potential for some smaller burns and streams to be affected. | "Without a sudden rise in temperature and heavy rain, risk of serious flooding is low at the moment, although there is the potential for some smaller burns and streams to be affected. |
| "Surface water flooding may occur where residual ice is blocking free drainage." | "Surface water flooding may occur where residual ice is blocking free drainage." |
| A spokesman for Scottish Water said: "We have had a thaw in the south of Scotland which has resulted in our repair squads dealing with around 100 bursts a day on the water network. | |
| "We are also experiencing increased demand at our Water Treatment Works due to the unprecedented level of bursts." | |
| 'Important jobs' | 'Important jobs' |
| The company said it had also repaired a burst pipe which had caused a loss of supply to a number of properties, particularly taller buildings, in Glasgow's city centre. | |
| A spokesman said: "The burst has been isolated and normal water pressure and supply to buildings which had been affected by the burst has now been restored. | A spokesman said: "The burst has been isolated and normal water pressure and supply to buildings which had been affected by the burst has now been restored. |
| "The cold weather is causing frozen pipes across Scotland and Scottish Water is doing its best to attend to the most important jobs as a priority." | "The cold weather is causing frozen pipes across Scotland and Scottish Water is doing its best to attend to the most important jobs as a priority." |
| However, Gillian Christie, building manager at Centrum Office in the city's Queen Street - where about 30 companies are based - said that although the problem had now been fixed, supplies were not yet restored. | However, Gillian Christie, building manager at Centrum Office in the city's Queen Street - where about 30 companies are based - said that although the problem had now been fixed, supplies were not yet restored. |
| She said: "I've been trying to get this sorted since Thursday. | She said: "I've been trying to get this sorted since Thursday. |
| "We have made arrangements with a coffee shop and nightclub downstairs to use their facilities but the whole situation has been a nightmare - some companies have lost money because they couldn't come into the office. | "We have made arrangements with a coffee shop and nightclub downstairs to use their facilities but the whole situation has been a nightmare - some companies have lost money because they couldn't come into the office. |
| "I was passed from pillar to post and there was a lack of responsibility on Scottish Water's part." | "I was passed from pillar to post and there was a lack of responsibility on Scottish Water's part." |
| 'Snow blower' | 'Snow blower' |
| The minister responsible for the transport system admitted freezing conditions had made it "challenging" for the network. | The minister responsible for the transport system admitted freezing conditions had made it "challenging" for the network. |
| Services faced widespread disruption and delay during the worst of the cold spell and Mr Stevenson told the BBC that snow was so deep on the Elgin to Inverurie line that a conventional plough was not able to move it. | Services faced widespread disruption and delay during the worst of the cold spell and Mr Stevenson told the BBC that snow was so deep on the Elgin to Inverurie line that a conventional plough was not able to move it. |
| He added: "We've had to see a snow blower brought in from the south to clear that." | He added: "We've had to see a snow blower brought in from the south to clear that." |
| The main service between Edinburgh and Glasgow was restored to a quarter-hour service on Monday and Network Rail engineers are working to repair problems in other areas. | The main service between Edinburgh and Glasgow was restored to a quarter-hour service on Monday and Network Rail engineers are working to repair problems in other areas. |
| Mr Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think we will have lessons to learn, Network Rail are certainly learning those. | Mr Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think we will have lessons to learn, Network Rail are certainly learning those. |
| "But public transport has risen to the challenge both in the bus services across Scotland and in the rail network and has done remarkably well in what is a 30-year worst-weather event." | "But public transport has risen to the challenge both in the bus services across Scotland and in the rail network and has done remarkably well in what is a 30-year worst-weather event." |