Published: Wednesday, 6th January, 2010 9:06am

Winter white-out

by Ally McGilvray

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Snow-covered Galashiels appeared abandoned when our snapper took this picture shortly after midday on Wednesday.

BLIZZARDS brought life in the Borders to a virtual standstill this week as the area was battered by the worst winter storms Scotland has seen in 50 years.

All roads in and out of the region were closed, many motorists left stranded and towns deserted, as more than two feet of snow fell in places in just a couple of days.

Emergency teams worked round the clock to get the area moving again as the country was gripped by its longest cold snap in decades.

However, as temperatures dipped to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius in Peeblesshire, forecasters warned the freezing weather was set to continue to cause widespread disruption across the region.

Schools and colleges remained closed, bin collections and burials suspended, all routine hospital appointments and bus services were cancelled, and many shops and businesses shut as workers struggled to cope with the conditions.

Hundreds of homes across the Borders, including Galashiels, Peebles, and Selkirk, were left without electricity after snow brought down power lines.

And a 42-year-old man died after his car was in collision with a lorry on the A1 south of Cockburnspath.

Despite concerns over a shortage of salt, all main routes in the Borders were passable with extreme care by Thursday. However, the advice from police was not to drive unless it was an emergency.

A council spokesperson said: "The Borders has experienced extraordinary levels of snow, coupled with very low temperatures, and we are advising people to stay at home.

"The priority for Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, Lothian and Borders Police and other public agencies will be to maintain essential services."

But they added: "Council staff are working tirelessly to get the roads network open during these very difficult conditions. The aim is to get the Borders back to work by Monday, weather permitting."

The Borders awoke to a blanket of snow this week, as workers attempted to get back to work following the Christmas holidays.

But, as gritters struggled to keep main roads open, all 74 schools in the region, which were due to reopen on Tuesday, remained closed and they are not now set to reopen until Monday at the earliest.

However, many children took advantage of the extended break by going sledging.

A council spokesperson said: "All 74 schools in the Borders will remain closed for the rest of this week. The schools have been judged not to be accessible to staff and pupils.

"Additional Council resources will be deployed over the coming days towards improving access and making the schools ready.

"The situation continues to be reviewed and further announcements will be made about schools opening, taking into account prevailing and forecast weather conditions."

The council revealed it received emergency supplies of salt on Thursday and had drafted in extra workers in an effort to get the region's roads reopened.

A council spokesperson said: "Major efforts have been devoted throughout the period to clear snow from our major roads. Almost all of the region's A and Trunk roads were closed on Wednesday.

"Essential and much needed deliveries of salt were received by the Council on Thursday, after snowploughs opened up a route to enable the supplier's lorries to reach a depot.

"A total of 211 Council workers, 42 lorries, 11 tractors, 14 JCBs and a snow blower have worked in extreme and difficult conditions to clear the major roads. Significant progress has been made. But there is still much to be done.

"The strategic Trunk and A Roads are the main priority. Council staff will continue snowploughing and clearing work in the days ahead. In addition, external contractors have been called in to help with this massive effort."

The joint emergency planning group, comprising the Council, Police, Fire and Rescue, NHS Borders and the Scottish Ambulance Service, are meeting regularly to ensure a joint approach to the winter weather.

A baby requiring specialist treatment had to be airlifted to hospital in Edinburgh from the cricket pitch in Melrose after a helicopter which arrived at nearby Borders General Hospital with an emergency froze on the helipad.

And an elderly woman who fell and broke her hip had to be rescued from her snow-bound home on foot.

However, despite the closure of most day care and medical centres across the region, NHS Borders revealed staff were working beyond the call of duty to keep lifeline services operating.

Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Borders said: "I would like thank our staff for the exceptional efforts they are making to ensure we maintain essential services during this extreme winter weather.

"While we are doing what we can to mitigate the impact of the weather on our services, our top priority is the wellbeing and safety of our staff and patients, so our decision to suspend or cancel certain services in the short-term is to limit non-essential travel as much as possible. Staff and patients should follow the guidance of the police when considering travelling and should contact the relevant health service or place of work if they have any queries.

"NHS Borders is well prepared to deal with adverse weather conditions, having well established contingency plans in place to manage the impact of severe weather on our services.

"We are working closely with partner agencies to monitor and manage the situation. We are continually reviewing the impact on services, particularly our priority services and at-risk patients, to ensure we continue to maintain these key services and mitigate the effects of the severe weather."

SERVICES AFFECTED - COUNCIL

The extreme adverse weather conditions are affecting a number of Council services.

Schools

All schools in the Scottish Borders will be closed until at least Monday. Parents have been informed by Groupcall but parents are encouraged to check for further updates during the rest of the week. Staff are expected to attend school if they can do so safely. If parents have any specific concerns, they should e-mail ellinfo@scotborders.gov.uk or call Bordercare on 01896 752111. The official opening of Earlston High School on Friday is postponed.

Social Work Day Centres

Day centres run by Social Work Services will also remain closed for safety reasons. Social Work staff will provide services as appropriate in the homes of people affected by the closure. The decision ensures that service users do not need to negotiate their way to the centres during the bad weather. The situation remains under daily review.

Community centres

In relation to Council community centres and buildings - no buildings will be open apart from the Cinema in Hawick and the Queens centre in Galashiels.

Community services

Members of the public are advised to check with their local libraries about opening hours or any disruption to services. Mobile libraries are cancelled.

Roads

The Council is continuing to maintain a 24/7 wintering gritting service, is dedicated to keeping the strategic road network of Trunk and A roads open. Gritting supplies are still being delivered to Council depots on a daily basis.

Waste collections

Routine refuse and recycling collections are affected. Every effort is being made by crews to safely collect residents' waste on their routine day. However, if you do not receive a collection on your regular day, please present your waste the following week on the next due date. Residents are advised that side waste will be taken once normal collections recommence. All Community Recycling Collection sites are currently open to accept waste.

SERVICES AFFECTED - HEALTH BOARD

NHS Borders staff are pulling out all the stops to maintain essential services as the Scottish Borders bears the brunt of the severe weather conditions battering the country.

To minimise the risks to staff and patients travelling during this severe weather, a number of NHS Borders services have been suspended or cancelled due to the weather conditions. However, we are now actively planning to resume these as soon as possible.

Please note the following service information which applies from Friday (January 8):

All emergency services are operating effectively.

All Day Hospitals remain closed.

There are limited Dental services available in many areas - please phone to check if your local clinic is available. The contact telephone number for the Dental Access Line is: 0845 3000930.

All routine allied health professionals appointments at Health Centres, such as physiotherapy and podiatry have been cancelled. Patients should contact their Health Centres if they are unsure about their appointments. Home visits are affected and patients expecting a home visit should be contacted by the health care professional directly. If they have not heard from their health care professional/nurse and have an urgent health care need they should contact their local health centre.

 

Visits and appointments at Community Mental Health Services are affected. Patients who are expecting a home visit or appointment should be contacted by their health care professional directly. If they have not heard from their health care professional and have an urgent health care need, they should contact their local community mental health team office. This includes the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Andrew Laing Unit in Selkirk and the Substance & Alcohol Misuse Service, Borders Community Addiction Team.

All out-patient clinics at the Borders General Hospital and the Consultant out-patient clinic in Peebles will be staffed.

Patients are advised to attend their clinic or appointment only if they can travel there safely. They should take care and allow additional time for their journey. Patients and drivers will need to take extra care on footpaths and in car parks due to icy conditions and built-up snow.

Patients who are expecting the Patient Transport Service to take them to a routine appointment should be aware that there may be delays and the transport service will have to prioritise emergency and urgent patients. This may mean they will not receive Patient Transport.

 

If patients have concerns or urgent health care issues related to routine appointments they should contact their local health centre or the Borders General Hospital.

All BGH Audiology clinic appointments are cancelled.

Any routine appointments missed due to the weather conditions will be rearranged.

Calum Campbell, Chief Executive of NHS Borders said: "NHS Borders itself is well prepared to deal with adverse weather conditions, having well established contingency plans in place to manage the impact of severe weather on our services.

 

"I am particularly impressed at the lengths NHS Borders staff will go to come to work and to maintain essential health services. It is also very inspiring to see how Borders communities are coming together to support and help each other. I am hearing so many instances of friends and neighbours helping with essential travel, clearing snow for access or simply ensuring everyone has sufficient supplies."

 

In some areas, NHS Borders staff are showing their dedication by using sledges to transport supplies to housebound patients while others are helping supplement stocks for their patients at local supermarkets.

 

Staff, as well as members of the public, are using 4X4 vehicles to transport patients to health facilities for emergency treatment and GPs in Kelso have been using tractors to get to patients who are snowed-in. The Mountain Rescue Team is also helping transport staff to and from work.

 

The latest weather reports indicate the winter weather will continue, with further snow showers and icy conditions predicted. This will mean an increased risk for people in the Borders travelling to and from work or and accessing NHS Borders services. The advice from all agencies is to monitor local radio for any updates regarding community services and weather conditions.

ROADS

Chief Constable Kevin Smith, chair of road policing with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "The weather conditions which are being experienced across the United Kingdom at present are the worst in 20 years and driving is extremely difficult and dangerous. Our advice is to consider very carefully if your journey is absolutely necessary. If you must drive then ensure that you and your car are adequately prepared for the journey ahead."

Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, added: "Police up and down the country have been working hard to ensure motorists are safe during the severe cold weather and it's hard to believe some drivers are still taking risks on the roads. I would urge everyone who has to drive over the next few days to listen to police advice and take the necessary precautions."

HOW HAS THE SNOW AFFECTED YOU? Email your snow stories and pix to our reporters: editorial@bordertelegraph.com