Weather updates from Oxfordshire as the snow melts away
THIS PAGE WILL BE PROVIDING UPDATES ABOUT THE SITUATION IN OXFORDSHIRE
Last updated 5.25pm on March 4
Snowploughs and gritters were out throughout the the first three days of March and all main roads are now clear/passable. The gritters will be out again at 7pm with rain followed by clear skies and low temperatures leading to a black ice risk.
Gritting teams and local farmers have today continued to deal with some tough issues in the west / north west of the county where some roads suffered from large areas of drifted snow.
B4000 Blowing Stone Hill is not passable and B4026 Chipping Norton to Charlbury, B4022 Enstone to Charlbury are now open.
The council’s gritters have already been out on around 60 occasions since the start of November.
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Drive to the conditions
Area Group Opertations Manager Paul Wilson said: “The aim throughout has been to have the main roads in as safe a condition as possible. We’ll continue to work around the clock to clear roads. It should however be pointed out that gritting is not a magic elixir that prevents the driving hazards that winter brings. It lessens them – it does not eliminate them. Our advice is always that people should drive to the conditions. Don’t drive like you would in June or July. It’s common sense really - but it’s such an important message.”
The council covers 1,200 miles in one gritting run, the equivalent distance of London to Iceland. This covers all A-roads, B-roads and some C-roads in the county. Highways England cover the A34, A43 and M40.
To read about the gritting winter operation so far this year through the eyes of our experienced gritter driver Dave Primrose read here .
Driving safely
For expert advice from our Fire and Rescue Service on road safety see these tips
School closures
Should any schools decide to close due to cold weather/snow, they will be listed here. The council relies on schools to notify a closure for that to be added to this list. Up-to-date information about any other council service closures - including libraries, can be found here.
Stay warm and look after yourself
There is a direct link between cold winter weather and the higher number of deaths, heart attacks and strokes among older people and others in at-risk groups. Here's advice from our public health team on helping yourself and assisting vulnerable people to stay warm.
Met Office weather warnings
The Met Office is updating its weather warnings on a regular basis. These can be found here
Gritting routes
More specific information about gritting routes can be found here
How other services are affected
Information on services such as libraries, household waste recycling centres and Registration Offices can be found here
