Councils forced to cut back further on gritting

Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire, one of the hardest hit authorities in the country, announced last night it was further reducing the number of roads it would be gritting in a desperate effort to conserve meagre stocks of rock salt, causing the cancellation of some bus services and leaving many communities reliant upon just a single access route.

The Government's emergency "Salt Cell" group will meet today to decide where the next deliveries of grit should be directed, having already told local authorities to cut their use by 25 per cent. Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said further conservation measures are likely to be needed over the next 48 hours "to keep Britain moving".

Many councils across Yorkshire are desperate to see their stocks replenished, with the vast majority now able to grit priority routes only after weeks of freezing weather.

Kirklees said last night gritting was now being restricted to 'A' roads and certain 'B' roads as well as key routes to schools, police stations and hospitals.

Cabinet member for highways, David Sheard, said: "We have never had to take this action before, and I hope the weather conditions improve so that it is only temporary. Salt stocks are dependent on us receiving allocations from the Government's Salt Cell.

"These truly are exceptional circumstances and hopefully residents understand the need for grit supplies to be conserved until stocks can be replenished."

Widespread transport problems continued yesterday despite a slight thaw in lower-lying parts of the region, with passengers facing chaos at Leeds Bradford airport and long delays on many rail and bus services.

The airport was effectively closed throughout the morning as snow continued to fall, with passengers delayed by up to six-and-a-half hours and several flights cancelled altogether. Many transpennine rail services were also cancelled, as were a number of trains between Leeds and London.

On the roads, the AA reported more than double the usual number of breakdowns, with particularly problems around Leeds and West Yorkshire. Motorists also faced long delays on many routes.

Hundreds of schools did open their doors to students sitting crucial exams yesterday, however, with fears of widespread chaos proving largely unfounded.

Union leaders said there had been a "very high degree of determination" on the part of schools to make sure students were able to take their first day's A and AS level modular exams as planned. Many, such as Allerton High School and Woodkirk High Specialist Science School in West Yorkshire, opened solely for the exams before closing again.

In Sheffield, the city council's opposition Labour leader Jan Wilson called for a "Snowline" telephone service to help vulnerable residents.

Coun Wilson said: "Some residents may not be lucky enough to have helpful neighbours, friends or family, and may feel like prisoners in their own homes. A 'Snowline' could provide some much needed assistance as well as giving back a bit of dignity and independence."

Forecasters said the slight thaw would continue in Yorkshire for much of the week, but that temperatures would continue to fall below freezing overnight meaning the icy conditions will continue for the time being.