Another weather report

We woke this morning to quite solid rain. The forecasters yesterday had been offering dire warnings for Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire concerning snow, and more snow and yet more snow. There didn’t seem to be snow around us. Plenty of water, though. Water trickling into the lounge room from the top of the window. Not sure there’s much we can do about that at half past six on a wet and windy December morning. I moved the lamp and anything else that might object to getting wet, put the cat’s towel along the windowsill and let it as a Problem for Another Day.

It became clear, as we went out to get in the car, that the rain bashing against our windows had been lying to us. It had also been snowing. Oscar was covered in snow. QVR was all slushy.

The forecasters had all suggested yesterday evening that we should leave a bit early for work. We hadn’t.

And in fact, all was well. It was snowing in earnest as we hit the bypass at Chesterfield, but the Derbyshire council is extremely good about keeping the roads gritted and clear of snow. It’s true they had concentrated on the inside lane in both directions, but that was ok. No one was venturing into the outside lane; we all progressed at a stately 55 mph in the slow lane. No one was hassled. The traffic flowed beautifully.

Until we hit the county boundary with Sheffield.

Woomp!

The traffic came to a complete standstill.

The A 61, a main arterial into the city centre and significant bus route, clearly hadn’t been gritted, isn’t loved, nor maintained. The roads were slushy and slippery. The traffic was at a complete standstill from the Meadowhead roundabout. It took nearly twice as long to drive the 4 miles from Meadowhead to the Adsetts Centre than it took to drive the 12 or so miles from Tupton to Meadowhead. You would expect it to take longer than usual under the circumstances, for it was still snowing merrily. But that was ridiculous.

Doesn’t the council have some sort of statutory obligation to keep the roads passable, or at least to make an effort? It’s quite noticeable that as you drive past the Chesterfield depot in the evenings and early mornings when snow, ice or frost are expected, the gritters are all lined up, champing at the bit, ready to rock out and get going. As far as I can tell, the Sheffield gritters are wrapped up warmly and snuggly in their sheds, doonas pulled over their heads, hot water bottles tucked in, to stop them getting wet and cold, poor things.

There is no snow in the Sheffield City Centre. It’s just dark, cold, gloomy and wet.

I have a super-long weekend coming up. I’ve got tomorrow off, and am on the evening duty on Monday and not coming in until 4. Hooray for long weekends!!