Live Blog: Latest snow news (From Crewe Guardian)

4:20pm

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Reader Bill Armsden has sent in some beautiful pictures of snowy scenes in Middlewich...

3:33pm

Weather update from Cheshire East Council:

Highways

Cheshire East Council will continue to grit all the borough’s major routes over the next 24 hours. However, motorists are urged to drive with care, especially on rural routes that may not have been treated.

Gritting started early yesterday evening on the hills in the east of the Borough as snow fell. Treatment in this area has been continuous and we have managed to keep the Cheshire East side of the A537 and the A54 open to traffic. 

Crews have spread around of 800 tonnes of salt since yesterday evening and stocks remain plentiful.  All of our gritters have been out to ensure that conditions are as safe as we can make them.

As we move towards the next few days we are expecting less snow.  However, the problems will quickly shift to ice as temperatures drop.

Work in the town centres, outside schools, railway stations etc. has been ongoing all day. In total we have around 100 additional bodies on the network clearing snow and spreading salt. 

Waste Collections

The majority of routes have been collected as normal today. However, in the interests of safety the Leader, Councillor Michael Jones, has now taken the decision to suspend all waste collections where the conditions are deemed too dangerous for crews to operate.

If residents’ waste has not been collected by the end of today (Friday, January 18), people are advised to bring it in and put it back out on Monday morning.

Crews will do their best to catch up on Monday, but this may not be possible and some collections may fall in to Tuesday. If your bin has not been collected by Monday evening leave it out for collection on Tuesday. 

However, this will be dependent on weather conditions over the next few days.

Schools

Currently we have 30 schools confirmed as closed across Cheshire East. Parents are advised to check with schools directly, and we would encourage parents to continue to do this if the weather is poor next week

3:27pm

CHESHIRE East Council will continue to grit major routes through Crewe and the borough over the next 24 hours.

The council is urging motorists to drive with care, especially on rural routes that may not have been treated.

Gritting started early yesterday evening on the hills in the east of the borough as snow fell.

A spokesman said: “Treatment in this area has been continuous and we have managed to keep the Cheshire East side of the A537 and the A54 open to traffic. 

“Crews have spread around 800 tonnes of salt since yesterday evening and stocks remain plentiful.  All of our gritters have been out to ensure that conditions are as safe as we can make them.

“As we move towards the next few days we are expecting less snow.  However, the problems will quickly shift to ice as temperatures drop.

“Work in the town centres, outside schools, railway stations etc. has been ongoing all day. In total we have around 100 additional bodies on the network clearing snow and spreading salt.”

3:07pm

2:48pm

The following schools in the Crewe and Nantwich area have closed:-
Brine Leas
King’ s Grove
Excalibur Primary
Haslington Primary
Shavington Primary
Shavington High
Sir William Stanier
Malbank
Underwood West Primary
Springfield School
Alsager High
Greenbank School

2:25pm

Update from Cheshire East Council:

All major routes open

Some bin collections suspended today - residents advised to take their bins in over the weekend and put them out again on Monday

No school closures in Middlewich

Knutsford Academy is closed

2:15pm

2:14pm

Bit of a Knutsford school update here. Only the Academy has sent students home. http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/10171008.SNOW_LATEST__Academy_to_close_early_due_to_snowy_conditions/

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1:53pm

This bonny snowman, built by our very own reporter Gina Bebbington, clearly has excellent reading tastes...

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1:15pm

St John's Church in Winsford blanketed in snow...

1:04pm

Adog-walker enjoys a snowy stroll in Kingsmead (below).

1:01pm

A very snowy Kingsmead in Northwich this morning...

12:52pm

HEALTH chiefs are bracing themselves for high numbers of patients who have suffered injuries after slips, trips or falls in the snow.
Mike Cheshire, NHS north west medical director, said: “We need older people and those who have long-term conditions to make sure they keep taking their medication and have sufficient supplies so that they don’t need to go out for more during the cold spell.
“We also need everyone to help our A&E and 999 teams by only using them for life-threatening and urgent conditions, such as heart attacks, strokes, breathing problems and serious accidents.”

Anyone with a common complaint or non-life-threatening condition are advised to contact their GP, dial NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 / NHS111 or go and see their local pharmacy for advice and help.

12:50pm

UPDATE:

Latest list of schools affected by the snowtoday:

Northwich area
Crowton Primary School - closed
Greenbank School - closing at 1pm
JH Godwin - closing at 1pm
The Russet School - closed

Winsford area
Darnhall Primary School - closed
Greenfields Primary School - closing at 1pm
Hebden Green School - closed
Oaklands School -  closed
Tarporley High School - closed
Wharton CE Primary - closing
Willow Wood Primary School - closing at 1.15pm
Winsford E-Act - closed

12:50pm

UPDATE:

Latest list of schools affected by the snowtoday:

Northwich area
Crowton Primary School - closed
Greenbank School - closing at 1pm
JH Godwin - closing at 1pm
The Russet School - closed

Winsford area
Darnhall Primary School - closed
Greenfields Primary School - closing at 1pm
Hebden Green School - closed
Oaklands School -  closed
Tarporley High School - closed
Wharton CE Primary - closing
Willow Wood Primary School - closing at 1.15pm
Winsford E-Act - closed

11:26am

SEVERAL schools in Northwich and Winsford have been affected by today's snow.

In Northwich Crowton Primary School is closing at 12pm and The Russet School is closed.

In Winsford, Darnhall Primary School is closing at 12pm, Willow Wood Primary School is closing at 1.15pm and Hebden Green School and Wharton CE Primary are closing.

11:25am

In Winsford, Darnhall Primary School is closing at 12pm, Willow Wood Primary School is closing at 1.15pm and Hebden Green School and Wharton CE Primary are closing because of the snow

11:25am

WE are asking readers to tweet your winter wonderland pictures to @crewenews, or email them to matthew.taylor@guardiangrp.co.uk

11:23am

KNUTSFORD Academy will be closing at 1.15pm today, Friday, due to the snowy conditions.

11:09am

MIDDLEWICH residents should brace themselves for heavy snow showers tomorrow after forecasters predicted up to 15cm could land on the town.