Snow Love Lost as Councillors Discuss Weather Chaos

Liberal Democrat Leader Lynne Beaumont slammed KCC and Shepway Council’s performance during the recent spell of bad weather, saying she was ‘astonished at the mess we were left in'.

In a question to Cllr Rory Love, Cabinet for Environmental Services, Revenue and Benefits, during the Council meeting of February 18, Cllr Beaumont asked what representations Shepway council had made to KCC.

Cllr Beaumont also highlighted the case of an 83 year old woman who was left trapped at home for five days and pressed for an ‘absolute guarantee’ that this would not happen again.

Cllr Love granted that despite the weather warnings the highway authority seemed to be less prepared than on previous occasions, but explained amount of snow meant that ‘in the immediate aftermath only those staff able to walk to work or living near the depot could report for duty’.

Cllr Love said no authority could ever give ‘absolute guarantees’, comparing this to a ‘Michael Fish’ trap. Michael Fish infamously assured the nation that concerns a ‘hurricane’ was headed England’s way were false. Cllr Love also expressed a personal view that he ‘would like to see more residents take on responsibility themselves.’

Photo Blog - Shepway Snow

Took a few pics - feel free to take and use if you like , be nice and link back.

On Wednesday night I tried to get to Whitfield, but by the time I set off travel around Folkestone was a no-no. The A20 / M20 had been jammed solid for hours, traffic was grinding to a halt on hills and causing severe problems in the town.

The tailback from the A20 closure went right up Cherry Garden Avenue.

Despite heavy snow and roads like ice rinks, some drivers seemed unable to adapt to the conditions, with four 'almost' collisions and much beeping and swearing while I walked along the road, including a mini going sideways at one point.

The snowfalls came and went, and would sometimes reduce visibility with only lights visible. Both the shots below are from Cherry Garden Avenue.

Thursday morning sees thick snow on the ground. The local radio station has nearly endless weather updates, traffic news and school closures. All the roads up hills are closed, trains aren't running and the whole area seems to have ground to a halt.

Sadly I can hotdesk from an office in Folkestone, so ever the diligent employee I don my walking boots and set off.

On the walk in the roads are amazingly quiet. Very few cars are on the roads, and as reported, heavy lorries have become stuck on all the hills I pass. No amount of scraping snow away from the road surface gets them to move, with the cabs gently swaying as the drive wheels spin.

Many stay in this position for hours, blocking main routes around the town. The pic is two lorries blocking Dover Hill.

Predictably many shops and businesses were closed. Folkestone Sports Centre car park was empty, though the creaking sounds of the ski lift indicated some were probably enjoying the chance to practice on the real thing.

I managed to duck into Cheriton cemetery, where the mottled headstones and statues were lent a serene beauty with a blanket of fresh white snow.

To keep up to date with the latest traffic news, go to the BBC or the Kent Police site. Further reports are at Romney Marsh Times.

Latest on Thursday night - treacherous conditions as temperature falls. Long queues just about everywhere on major roads. Five mile tailback to get into Dover with some traffic being turned back. Lorries are blocking the sliproad to exit the M20 at Capel and Operation Stack is in operation.

Don't travel unless absolutely necessary, take a blanket, a mobile phone and a bit of food. Don't take any risks, be light on the pedals, use the gears to regulate speed and allow 10x the ususal stopping distance.

Feels a bit pompous saying that as of course everyone knows it already...at least I thought so till I saw the Cherry Garden junction yesterday!

Shepway Snow Chaos Sparks Strong Words From Shepway Politicians

Shepway politicians have slammed KCC for failing to prepare Shepway’s roads for the recent spell of bad weather. Parts of Folkestone were rendered impassable due to snowfall on Wednesday night. The A20 coast bound was at a standstill, leading to huge tailbacks along Cherry Garden Avenue and in Cheriton.

This morning (Thursday), the roads were quiet. Vehicles that attempted to travel ground to a halt on hills in the town. Several articulated lorries blocked Radnor Park Road and Dover Road and with traffic unable to travel up the incline towards Payers Park, long delays saw cars abandoned. In the afternoon roads became passable, though conditions were wtill difficult.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Parliamentary Candidate Lynne Beaumont has called for Nick Chard, KCC Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste to step aside.

In a statement on the Liberal Democrat website, Ms Beaumont highlights the losses to businesses and the dangers for the elderly and other residents unable to travel.

'There was absolutely no need for this chaos. Kent County Council are responsible for gritting the roads. They haven't. They knew it was happening and they have let us down, again. There can be no excuses this time: an apology is not good enough.

'Nick Chard, should wake up and smell the coffee, and look out of his window - or get someone actually in in Shepway to look out of theirs.

'Mr Chard, the unpassable roads of Shepway last night and today are your responsibility, your error. It is time to stand aside and let someone who cares, and can keep main roads safe, take the lead.'

Labour Candidate Donald Worsley emailed FUTS a strong statement; ‘Train standed 800 yards form Folkestone Central for hours, cars unable to get out of side roads. Delivery lorries going nowhere and gritters stuck, and yet only yesterday KCC said it was prepared for the further snow and had enough grit.

‘John Wayne would be riding on County Hall today if he was still alive. As for further apologies from Eurotunnel, one despairs. True Grit more like Bull.......'

Shepway Conservatives have yet to comment, perhaps unwilling to criticise Chard, a Conservative, or County Hall, which is under Conservative control. On January 20 a Conservative motion was passed which included the lines ‘[Shepway District Council] congratulates KCC on the effectiveness of its gritting of primary routes, as well as on its efforts to clear ice and snow, to the benefit of the mobility and safety of motorists on A and B class roads, busy commuter routes and other known danger spots.’ But also resolved to ask KCC to ‘extend its activities’.

In a statement on KCC’s website released before the snowfalls, Mr Chard claimed that the County Council had ‘prepared well’.

‘Where we salt depends on the weather forecast. We listen very closely to what is going to happen. We go where we think there will be snow or freezing conditions.

'The strategic routes are our priority on Kent's roads. We have also been out carrying out precautionary gritting of town centre pavements. We don't want people falling over.

'We have got about 5,000 tons of salt. We have maintained adequate supplies. As soon as we have used salt we have tried to replenish supplies.'

Walking from Cheriton to Folkestone FUTS saw little if any evidence of gritting or salting of roads and pavements in the area. Mr Chard has yet to respond to enquiries via email.

Update Thurs evening. According to this site gritting staff did arrive at the depot on Thursday morning, only to be told the gritters 'just are not coming out today'.

Snow Affecting Shepway's Roads

A snowfall this evening (Wednesday 5) is affecting travel in Shepway.

The M20 and A20 were quiet with minimal traffic flowing freely presumably due to problems in areas to the north and west of Shepway due to earlier snowfall. Radio bulletins have carried news of jacknifed lorries and motorway closures near Ashford.

From Under the Stone saw gritters out covering main routes. Drivers in the town have been keeping to around 15mph and were struggling to get up Canterbury Road and Crete Road East. No accidents were seen but conditions were extremely difficult for drivers.

Kent police are advising motorists to travel only if absolutely necessary (http://www.kent.police.uk/News/Latest_News/weather_warning.html#info).

Southeastern trains have announced their revised timetable, which greatly reduces the number of trains, will remain in place tomorrow (Thursday 6). For further information go to http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/.

It hasn't all been bad news. A small group was seen sledging and snowboarding down the side of Castle Hill.