More snow over the weekend so more disruption to schools and travel. We will update this with any more news throughout the day.
The latest update from the council tonight:-
“Staff from the City of Edinburgh Council have been out in full force over the weekend dealing with the latest severe weather to hit the Capital.
With the heavy snow fall on Sunday, priority was given to Category 1 routes with 22 gritters, 16 mini-tractors and 32 other vehicles clearing snow – where possible Category 2 routes were also treated.
Nearly 400 other Council staff and sub-contractors were also out braving the conditions breaking up and clearing snow and ice from carriageways and footpaths.
In addition, pavements for category 1 and 2 routes were treated, snow and ice removal took place on Category 3 routes and all accessible grit bins have been replenished.
So far this year we have used 7,500 tonnes of salt compared to 10,500 tonnes over the whole of the previous winter. Current salt supplies in Edinburgh are sitting at around 1700 tonnes with another 1000 tonnes due to be delivered this week.
The Council has around 3,200 tonnes on order via our suppliers and the Scottish Government central stock. Supplies are mixed with grit and the amount used will depend on local conditions. Salt use will be monitored closely and supplies obtained as we need them.
A full list of streets and their priority for gritting is now available. Residents can now look up their street name and find out what priority gritting route they are on.
The Council will be doing everything possible to bring refuse collection up-to-date, especially in the worst hit areas of the city. Crews were out at the weekend making every effort to collect refuse that has accumulated during the bad weather.
The Council is trying different ways to access areas that the refuse lorries cannot reach by using smaller caged vehicles and by refuse collectors going out on foot and lifting rubbish out of wheelie bins and carrying it to the vehicles. Residents are being asked to make sure they bag their rubbish before putting in their bin, to make it easier for the refuse staff to collect.
Councillor Robert Aldridge, Environmental Leader, said: -“This year, our staff and contractors have been pulling out all the stops under severe weather conditions. From bringing in extra Council contractors to our own staff volunteering to go out and clear the snow. We want to reassure residents that we are out on the ground, and are as prepared as we have ever been for whatever cold weather may come our way this week.
“We regret that we will need to be prepared for extended disruption to the refuse service if the forecast continues to be for further bad weather and will be looking at all possible options for dealing with waste.”
Waste and Recycling over the Festive period
There will be no wheelie bin pick ups on 3, 4 and 5 January; residents should put their bin out the following week instead.
All other black sack collection services will run as normal.
There will be no change to the red and blue box collections and householders are asked to put their boxes out as normal.
There will be no collection of trade waste on 25 and 26 December or on 1 and 2 January. Traders are asked to put bins out on the first next scheduled collection day.
If residents would like their Christmas tree collected, trees should be presented beside rubbish bins or back sacks on the regular collection day.
Due to the severe weather conditions, the garden waste recycling service is currently suspended. However, Christmas trees and garden waste can be taken to any of the four Community Recycling Centres for recycling.
The Council priority is catching up with the backlog of refuse collection due to the bad weather and ask for understanding during the severe weather period.
The public can also use any of the temporary skips across the city for their old Christmas trees.
If there is more snow the Council is urging drivers to drive and park appropriately and avoid leaving their vehicle in an area where it could present a risk to other motorists and to avoid bus routes. Due to the bad weather last week, Police uplifted 100 cars which had been abandoned.
All neighbourhood areas now have a squad targeting the worst potholes. Repairs will be done on a priority basis.
Bus routes have been targeted for gritting in the severe weather and this will be the same position if more bad weather hits Edinburgh.
Ryanair have issued a list of the flights which they have had to cancel. This includes some Edinburgh bound flights. The appropriate page is here.
Libraries may be affected so you should check before setting out but we are advised that:-“Mobile Library services on Monday 20th December are again affected by weekend snowfall.
We’ll try and run part services once we’ve cleared the exit and are checking with care homes to see what access we can get.
As usual you can call us on 0131 529 5683 for an update.”
Midlothian Council have news about schools and other council services:-
Midlothian’s 30 primary/nursery schools will open at 10am today and will close at the normal time.
Breakfast clubs will not be operating.
Midlothian’s six high schools, and Saltersgate School, will open and close at the normal time today (Monday, 20 December) unless otherwise notified during the course of the day.
As parking capacity will be reduced, staff should use public transport where possible.
Parents who use the wraparound care service at Mount Esk nursery school in Bonnyrigg should be aware that wraparound will not be available prior to the nursery opening at 10am. Thereafter, the service will operate as normal for the rest of the day.
Gritting crews are concentrating on priority routes as well as routes around schools, and the phased opening times arrangement should help maximise the amount of attention streets and footways round all schools can receive in terms of treatment.
HGV gritters are working mostly on main roads while smaller excavators, mechanical shovels and road-clearing crews are working on footways and pavements.
There are just over 800 miles of road and footways in Midlothian.
Parents or carers should make their own assessment about whether or not they feel it is safe for their children to make their way to school.
Conditions underfoot are likely to be difficult, and motorists are again warned to be vigilant if driving as some pedestrians may be using roads rather than footways.
If your child is at high school and receives council transport, please be ready at the normal time, using the same pick up and drop off points as during the previous bad weather earlier in the month. If your child is at primary school and receives council transport, please be aware that the pick-up will be an hour later than normal. Pick-up at the end of the school day is unaffected and will be at the normal time.
If your child normally receives council-provided transport, and you have queries, please direct them to our special phoneline on 0131 561 5453. This phoneline will open from 7am on Monday morning.
Conditions were assessed at 6am this morning and these arrangements around school openings are now confirmed.
Social Work – Cherry Road, John Chant Centre and the Highbank Centre for Older People will be open to provide an outreach service for vulnerable people.
Hawthorn Children’s Centre is open as normal.
All libraries/ leisure centres will be open as normal.
Midlothian Snowsports Centre is open as normal.
Waste collections today may be affected by the weather but if your rubbish was due for collection today, you should still put it out to your normal roadside collection point.
Midlothian’s severe weather emergency is entering its fourth week.
Midlothian Council report that all 30 Midlothian primary schools will open at 10am tomorrow morning.
All six high schools, and Saltersgate School, will open at the normal time today.
Gritting crews are concentrating on priority routes as well as routes around schools, and the phased opening times arrangement should allow streets and footways to receive some treatment.
HGV gritters are concentrating on main roads while smaller excavators, mechanical shovels and road-clearing crews are working on footways and pavements.
There are just over 800 miles of road and footways in Midlothian.
Parents or carers should make their own assessment about whether or not they feel it is safe for their children to make their way to school.
Conditions underfoot are likely to be difficult, and motorists are again warned to be vigilant if driving as some pedestrians may be using roads rather than footways.
If your child is at high school and receives council transport, please be ready at the normal time, using the same pick up and drop off points as during the previous bad weather.
If your child is at primary school, please be aware that the pick up will be an hour later than normal. If your child normally receives council-provided transport, and you have queries, please direct them to our special phoneline on 0131 561 5453. This phoneline will open from 7am on Monday morning.
The situation will be assessed overnight, as per normal practice, and any subsequent school closures will be announced and publicised as soon as possible through this website, media, Facebook and Twitter. Please help by passing on information yourselves, particularly if you know people who may not use the internet.
Social Work – Cherry Road, John Chant Centre and the Highbank Centre for Older People will be open for people who can make their own way to them.
Hawthorn Children’s Centre is going to be open as normal.
All libraries/ leisure centres will be open as normal.
Midlothian Snowsports Centre is open as normal.
contactcentre@midlothian.gov.uk
0131 561 5284
The weekend’s heavy snow has resulted in priority being given to Category 1 routes with 22 gritters, 16 mini-tractors and 32 other vehicles clearing snow – where possible Category 2 routes were also treated.
Nearly 400 other Council staff and sub-contractors have been out in the city breaking up and clearing snow/ice from carriageways and footpaths.
In addition pavements for category 1 and 2 routes were treated, snow and ice removal took place on Category 3 routes and all accessible grit bins have been replenished.
Gritting crews will continue to work throughout the night. A full list of streets and their priority for gritting is now available. Residents can now look up their street name and find out what priority gritting route they are on.
Public are being reminded to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours to see if they are coping with the extreme weather conditions. A quick visit to make sure they have enough food and essential supplies in their home is always welcome.
Emergency household supplies are available to vulnerable people if they are assessed as needing help after contacting Social Care Direct. The supplies are being delivered by the Council’s own staff and Red Cross volunteers are helping out.
Anyone who is concerned about someone who they feel should be getting assistance can contact the social care direct team at the Council on 0131 200 2324, and staff there will arrange appropriate follow up. In the evenings and weekend contact can be made with the out of hours service at 0800 731 6969.
Residents should also follow the ‘Edinburgh Snow Code‘ as the severe weather is forecast to continue for the coming week.
All Special Schools will be closed to pupils today but Secondary and Primary Schools are open.
All Special Schools staff should continue to report to work. If they cannot report to their usual place of work then they should go to the nearest City of Edinburgh Council school. If staff are experiencing difficulties getting to work they should contact their Head Teacher.
In preparation for today’s snow forecast priority gritting had been identified for those school areas which had previously had access problems.
Head teachers will make individual school assessments tomorrow morning and any closures will be notified as early as possible.
Parents/carers are advised to check the Council website and listen to local radio.
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