Oxfordshire,
28
December
2017
|
09:22
Europe/London

Black ice alert: gritters out again last night + flood alerts

Update: 28 Dec 9:20

The Environment Agency has issued Flood Alerts for the following areas, though waters are subsiding and are not expected to threaten properties:

Update: 28 Dec 7:15

Ice warning still in place from Met Office so road users and pedestrians should are warned about black ice, following several accidents last night.

Update: 27 Dec 21:50

Black ice alert: Gritters went out at 7pm and have nearly completed their run. Even so, emergency services have been called to several accidents involving black ice. Their advice is not to drive unless essential and take great care if you do go out. Gritters are going out again immediately they finish.

Update: 27 Dec 16:33

There are currently two implemented road closures at Marsh Gibbon and at Long Hanborough, plus road impassable at Woodeaton. Please do not enter flood water.

There is a Yellow Warning of Ice for tonight and tomorrow morning.

There is a Cold Weather Alert Level 3 from tonight to Saturday, meaning 90% likelihood of temperatures consistently near to or below freezing.

Gritters will be back out around 7pm this evening to combat tonight’s sub-zero temperatures.

Oxfordshire's Libraries will shut at 5pm tonight to allow staff to get home safely

 

Update: 27 Dec 10:50

Road closure - Lower Rd Hanborough is closed under the railway bridge due to flooding

 

With rain turning to snow overnight, Oxfordshire's gritters have been out twice overnight. 

The first treatment run headed out at 23:00 to get salt down ahead of the snow. Snow started falling to the west of the county at approximately 2 – 2.30 am with some areas seeing in excess of 50 mm, while the east saw slushier conditions. 

Crews were back at the depots by 6am after a second run around the county and will be back out again to target the worst affected areas, including the higher ground to the west, including Banbury and Chipping Norton to Burford in the North and Faringdon and the higher ground (Uffington Hills) in the south.

We'll have more updates throughout the day.

Gritting runs

  • We aim to keep a network of major roads as free as possible from ice to minimise the risk of accidents. Precautionary salting (or ‘gritting’) helps to achieve this aim.
  • More information on routes and when the gritters are going out is here. We always advise people to take extra care even when roads have been treated.

Grit bins

  • Grit bins were refilled at the start of winter and are being refilled at the moment. There is more information on salt bins here.
  • We do encourage self-help. There are around 1300 salt bins across the county for the public to use on the public highway, including footways. Some Town and Parish Councils have snow warden schemes.

Pavements and cycle paths

  • Footways only get limited attention by the county council because clearing them is very labour intensive. Only major shopping areas are likely to be treated with salt/grit in the early stages following snowfall.

Snow guidance and government advice

Information and social media

Vulnerable children and adults

  • The emergency duty team of social workers (EDT) is on call 24/7, including over the Christmas period. Safeguarding concerns should be reported to 0345 050 7666 (office hours) or 0800 833408 (out of hours).

Community planning

  • The county council provides advice and support for communities that want to develop a local resilience plan, so they are prepared for extreme weather and emergency situations. More information here.

Power failure

You can call 105 to report or get information about power cuts in your local area.

You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put you, or someone else, in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, you should call the emergency services too.

105 is a free service, available to people in England, Scotland and Wales.

You can call the number from most landlines and mobile phones.