Snow update from Medway Council

Here's the latest information supplied by Medway Council about how they're handling the snow across the area (9.37am, 12/03/2013):

Medway’s Council’s eight gritters have been out through the night and will continue treating roads throughout today.

The teams continuously retreated all of Medway’s primary and secondary roads - which are more than 335 miles long - throughout the early hours and this morning.

But high, blustery north easterly winds, below zero temperatures, which have frozen road surfaces, and continuous snow overnight and this morning have made it a difficult, with new snow continuously settling on top of grit and ice.

Grit needs to be worked into the snow and ice by vehicles driving over it to take effect, so this has made the gritting teams work extremely difficult.

However, main roads across Medway are now passable with care, but the council would advise residents to only make essential trips due to the conditions - as North Kent is one of the two worst hit places in the country.

Crews have also been out treating the third tier road network this morning.

Snow ploughs were deployed overnight on the B2000, Cooling Road, A228 Grain Road and Ratcliffe Highway.

These are used to move considerable amounts of drifting snow that needs to be shifted due to its depth, but ploughs cannot be used to move low levels of snow on the road surface.

This needs to be treated by salt and grit, which when worked in by vehicles driving over it makes the roads less slippery and therefore passable.

Contractors are also out salting town centres by hand, but this does take time so the council would ask residents to bear with us as this is completed.

For details on which roads are treated on Medway’s road network please visit. Priority one car parks are also being treated and you can find details of them here. Residents are also urged to use salt bins and details of your nearest one can be found here.
 

A bit of snow can’t ruin the day!

So, the anticipated snow finally came and did its worst.

Thankfully the main roads on the Hoo Peninsula were relatively clear of snow, when I headed over to the Isle of Grain today with Rolf Williams from the RSPB. Rolf was keen to record local people talking about the prospect of an airport in the Thames Estuary, and the impact it would have.

Some recordings were taken outside, and the beach looked really stunning, with a thick covering of snow giving the place an eerie calm and peacefulness.

Rolf Williams from the RSPB

After a big dose of fresh air, we walked past St. James’ Church on our way to The Hogarth Inn. The pub today has this name because of a visit in 1732 by the artist William Hogarth. Over the years it has had a number of uses and names. It was originally called The Chequer Ale House. I’m not entirely sure whether he stayed the night at the pub, but he is said to have enjoyed a meal of ‘salt pork, bread, butter and buns and good malt liquor’. They obviously kept good records back in those days!

The pub was packed due to the screening of the Manchester United and Chelsea game. But I still got the chance to chat with people about the prospects of a Thames Estuary airport, local wildlife, family history and also the growing number of people volunteering at Grain Coastal Park. It was one of those afternoons where you just sit back and have a good chin-wag - pint in hand of course.

I promised to give a mention to Jennifer, Rene and Karen (pictured below).

Thanks for being such good sports!

Snow beckons . . .

With the much anticipated snow potentially only hours away (expected overnight Saturday into Sunday), I popped along to Homeleigh Nurseries, Garden Centre and Farm Shop earlier today to get myself some road salt and a new shovel.

Lots of other people clearly had the same idea, as the place was buzzing. The proprietor Ron Thorne (pictured below) was on hand and happy to help everyone find what they wanted.

Another blatant advert I know, but in the form of a useful ‘public service announcement’! If you’re thinking about popping along tomorrow, they’re open from 8am till 5pm on a Sunday - and have plenty of shovels and grit.

Homeleigh Nurseries, Garden Centre and Farm Shop, Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo, ME3 8QD. Telephone: 01634 250235.

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing - wrap up, stay warm and keep a look out for elderly or vulnerable neighbours that might need some help and assistance.

Take care!