Snow causes traffic chaos and school closure (PICTURES)
TRAFFIC came to a standstill today as treacherous conditions caused severe tailbacks and eight accidents.
The early morning chaos hit the A50 first. An accident at the junction with the A521 in the southbound direction caused gridlock.
By 8.30am police had put in place a rolling road block between Blythe Bridge and Heron Cross to deal with the congestion.
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Police spokesman David Bailey said: "A total of eight accidents were reported in North Staffordshire.
"The main reason for the congestion was the conditions rather than the accidents. Motorists who usually use smaller country routes were resorting to the larger main roads because conditions were so bad. In some places journeys were taking twice as long as they usually take."
AA officials reported an average speed of 5mph going south between Meir and Longton.
Sandon Road in Meir was at a complete standstill as a result of the problems.
The A500 at Britannia Stadium also became jammed with commuters struggling to cope with the snowy conditions.
Other accidents were reported in Chell Heath Road, Colclough Lane and Penkhull New Road causing prolonged delays.
Commuters reported it was taking them an extra two hours to get to work and some even chose to abandon their journey.
Laura Cottingham works in recruitment at Stowan Safety in Cooper Street, Hanley.
She lives in Leek and her journey to work by bus usually takes about an hour. This morning it took two and a half hours.
She said: "We were stuck in Endon for more than an hour. There wasn't much anybody could do about it so there was no point getting frustrated. Some people were getting off the bus and turning back because they had already missed early morning appointments."
Gritters were out through the night on roads across Staffordshire and Cheshire in preparation for the severe weather.
A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesman said: "The entire fleet of gritters were out last night and again at 7.30am." St John's Primary School in Mill Lane, Wetley Rocks, was closed because staff could not get to work.
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by lee, weston coyney
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 3:22PM
“What ever happened to common sense?
Have ever any of you guys heard of "walking"?
Oh, your place of work is 20mile away?
Then dont go,,
What about the kids?
Make them walk to school,!
You walk with them if it makes you feel any better,
its a good excuse not to go work right?
This is how the majority of people think nowadays,,"a little bit of snow and my world comes to an end, cant drive my car,,im doomed".
Only doctors, nurses, pensioner care workers, ambulances and rescue services should be given priority over roads and access to 4x4 vehicles, when bad weather hits.
The rest of you can belt up and deal with it,! ,if your that scared stay at home!”
by Liz, Shivering Stoke
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 10:14AM
“Steve, New Zealand, do you have a spare room, sounds great out there!”
by Warren, Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 9:41AM
“The problem round hear in Stoke is the over reacton of the public, and a bit of silly driveing as per normal. Council gritters were out and did there job well, keeping the roads clear. The problems in the Meir are being over egged a little by some of the posts. As I say 9 times out of 10 its folks only thinking of themselfs and a but of foolish driveing, if you are runing a bit late for work, hay so what.”
by Andy, Penang,Malaysia
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 9:11AM
“Having commuted along the A50 every day for the last 2 years, you have my sympathy. At least living in the tropics all I have to worry about on the way home from work are landslides and monkeys - and whether to have a swim before or after my G+T!!!”
by steve, newzealand !!
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 4:13AM
“Sorry about that the suns out here and its about 28 dgrees and the bbq on !!”
by steve walley, newzealand
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 4:12AM
“Sorry dont do snow here this time of year it 32 and the suns out!!!”
by Icy driver, Leek
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 9:16PM
“It's 7am and I'm leaving Leek to go to work for an 8am start in Alton. A journey which usually takes 20minutes takes over an hour! I'm a careful driver, I know not to brake on corners, to stay in a high gear with low revs, to steer into skids - all the preparation in the world could not have helped today though. As leaving Leek it was clear the roads weren't in the best condition, however it wasn't until turning onto Ellastone Road that the full picture uncovered! Thick with snow, this main road looked like a country lane - with no grit down, all I can see is snow and skid marks. As I slowly turn a corner I head over to the other side of the road and back again several times - I fear for my car! I pass two cars which were less fortunate - in the ditch on the side of the road, stuck at 30degrees - hazard lights flashing, unable to move. Arriving at work late I'm thankful to have made it - others have taken even longer to arrive, some not even making it. At least tonights journey home will be better - at least the gritters will have been out! Wishful thinking - as if cut off from the rest of the world, the very roads I use to get to work are equally as icy as they were this morning - even at the 10mph speed which I'm taking, it is dangerous, as with the steep drops followed by sharp bends and inability to brake the ice once again leaves me fearing for my safety!! Why oh why are we affected so much by a couple of inches of snow? Why weren't the gritters called out to those roads? Dare I go to work tomorrow? Can I trust these roads have been cleared over night? Wishful thinking!!”
by lorry driver, the roads
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 8:01PM
“did it snow today?? i saw no more than a inch!! i went down the a50 and they wasnt no snow on this road at all, on the carrigway maybe a little on the edges, thou u have to laugh, with a 44ton lorry i get to a fcatory in meir, and they is a little hill, my whels just about make it up to the intercom, i stop to get them to open the gate for me, some fella behine me says " for gods sake dont slide back, im right behind you ive seen you struggle to here"...
so someone sees me struggle up a little hill and parks right behind me when i stop!! another winner:)...
but half the problem are the people who just leave the cars at the side of the roads.”
by sean, Kernow
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 7:18PM
“Bazz... we don't hate the English!.. we hate everyone! lol ... (not really, he has us confused with the Welsh!!) although your right about the weather.. they are forecasting it tonight over bodmin.. so get ya snow shoes out!!!
Well looks like nothing has changed back in Stoke then... a little snow and the world stops.. it always used to surprise me how Cheshire county council kept the roads clear.. all the way to Church Lawton traffic lights.. and where staffordshire do there roads.. untouched...
Its very much like Andy states, drive with the conditions... blocked roads and accidents are usually due to people not understanding how to drive in those conditions.
Makes me wonder how they cope in Norway!”
by Andy, Biddulph
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 6:32PM
“My 15 minute (max) journey to Tunstall this morning took 1hour 20 minutes. The roads here in Biddulph were fine. WELL DONE STAFFS MOORLANDS GRITTERS! Once in Stoke on Trent - well that's a much different story. How can 1 inch of snow cause such traffic chaos?”