It must be getting warmer... the frozenSnake Pass finally reopens to traffic

Martin Slack

MOTORISTS were able to drive on the Snake Pass between Yorkshire and Greater Manchester yesterday after the road reopened following days of closures caused by the freezing weather.

The pass, which forms part of the A57 between Sheffield and Manchester, was first closed on January 6 when several inches of snow fell in just a few hours over much of northern England.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Derbyshire County Council, which is responsible for the Peak District road, said it did reopen briefly after that, but was then closed again between January 10 and yesterday after more snow fell.

A council spokesman said staff had worked hard to clear the snow and ice which had made the road dangerous for motorists, and added efforts would be made to keep the route open.

Yesterday, it was the turn of the South West to bear the brunt of the latest cold weather front. Gloucestershire was particularly badly affected by snow and 50 schools were shut. Eight schools in Shropshire and four in Herefordshire were also forced to close.

Meanwhile, the bad weather either side of Christmas caused a drop in train punctuality, according to figures released by rail infrastructure operator Network Rail

As many as a third of trains on the two main London to Scotland routes –the East Coast and the West Coast lines – did not run on time in the period from December 13 to January 9.