22/12/2004 - Whether the weather be white...

Warnings of a potentially white or at least wet Christmas in Cumbria mean that county council highways staff will be on high alert over the holiday period.

Forecasts from the Meterological Office predict that the county could be in for snow, sleet or rain over Thursday, 23rd December, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Supervisors and staff responsible for winter road maintenance will be on duty day and night over the period to grit priority routes in the county and to deploy snow ploughs and other services if necessary.

The teams based at main depots in the county receive 24 hour and five-day forecasts for the Met Office. Salt supplies have been replenished in readiness for the Christmas period.

When road frost or icy conditions are forecast they will grit first priority roads within three hours of work starting and second priority roads within five hours.

Treatments on other roads will be dictated by the conditions. During prolonged bouts of bad weather non-prioirty routes will be treated after prioirty routes and as resources allow. Emergency situations will be dealt with in conjunction with the police.

The amount of time it takes to clear snow will depend on how much has fallen and priority roads will be cleared first and other areas will follow.

Please drive carefully over the Christmas period and both motorists and pedestrians should take extra care when winter conditions are testing. 

The Highways Hotline for reporting road problems will operate 24 hours a day as usual over Christmas and New year - the number is 0845 609 6 609.

For a list of priority routes in the county visit http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/elibrary/view.asp?ID=3357