Winter Weather
Press Release, issued by Tayside Police, 2nd December
2010
As the winter weather continues to grip Tayside, the region's
emergency services and local authority services are calling on the
public's assistance to keep everyone safe and wherever possible the
roads open and passable with care.
Snow is continuing to fall in Tayside this morning making driving
conditions hazardous and Tayside Police would once again ask people
not to venture out on to the roads unless their journey is
absolutely necessary. The same message holds for pedestrians. If
you do not need to go out, stay home, stay warm and stay
safe.
While major routes are currently passable with care but minor and
more rural routes are still severely affected. All agencies are
working around the clock in a bid to clear all routes, with major
roads being prioritised and this is challenging with snow
continuing to fall.
However, their efforts are made more difficult by cars that have
been temporarily abandoned after drivers got into difficulty, or
left badly parked at the road side.
It is understandable that some cars were left where they faltered
in dreadful conditions, but Tayside Police would urge drivers to
recover their vehicles at the first opportunity as they do create
difficulties for those clearing the road, other road users and
pedestrians.
Please help the emergency services and roads and local authorities
to keep the roads as safe as possible. If you have left a vehicle
abandoned, collect it as soon as possible.
Local authorities are deploying all available resources on the
roads network to deal with the current severe weather. In addition
to roads staff, council staff are also working on snow clearing.
Gritting and snow clearing will continue throughout today.
Pedestrians should take every care when out on foot. Anyone heading
out of doors should wear warm clothing and footwear that is
appropriate for the conditions. Please also be aware of what is
going on around you at all times.
The weight of some of the snowfall resting on rooftops is
considerable and there have been reports of guttering being brought
down and large amounts of snow and ice sliding off of roofs.
Residents must be careful of where they are walking and to avoid
walking directly under roofs where large quantities of snow and ice
might fall.
Tayside Police would also ask people to be good neighbours and to
look out for those living around them, particularly the elderly and
more vulnerable.
Many people have been able to walk to and from local shops to get
food supplies and other essentials in recent days, but people might
consider of they have the opportunity to do a good deed for a
neighbour by collecting their messages for them.
If you are aware that a neighbour has health or medical problems,
or simply lives alone, check in on them to make sure they are okay
and see if they need any help or assistance. If required contact
their local GP or health centre, or alternatively NHS 24. If you
believe it is an emergency contact 999 immediately.
The emergency services and local agencies, as well as the roads and
local authorities are working closely together to keep everyone
safe during a challenging spell of weather. Tayside Police would
ask non-emergency callers to be patient while emergencies are being
dealt with.
There is a wealth of information on emergency service and local
authority web-sites about road closures, school closures and other
useful advice during the winter weather. Given the ever changing
nature of the weather at present keeping up to date on local web
sites is invaluable for anyone undertaking a journey or heading out
of doors.
People should avoid phoning the emergency services for traffic
information or local authority information, as this simply adds to
the volume of calls that control room staff are already dealing
with as a result of bad weather.
Please consider which agency you require the relevant information
from and contact them accordingly.
Once again, the message to drivers is the same - Do not venture out
onto the region's roads unless the journey is absolutely
essential.
Winter weather can be deceiving and whilst you may be able to
negotiate the main roads that have been cleared, it is an entirely
different situation once you get onto minor roads in rural and
residential areas. Information on Council and trunk road closures
can be found at http://trafficscotland.org
In addition, listen to local radio and television bulletins.
To help respond to enquiries about roads, possible school closures
and other services Perth and Kinross Council has a Service Centre,
which is usually open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 6pm, can be
contacted on 01738 475000. The school snowline is 0845
3011100.
For residents in the Dundee area who have concerns about possible
school closures and other services, Please visit Dundee City
Council website at www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Residents of Angus can contact the Council on the Accessline: 08452
777 778. Out with office hours, the Roads Emergency Call Out number
is 07850 703564.
