Snow and ice shuts Nantwich schools and causes road delays

Freezing winter conditions have seemingly ground Nantwich to a halt today with a number of schools shut and roads closed or log-jammed.

While snow and ice may have brought a touch of late festive fun, for some if has caused chaos on Monday with thousands returning to work and school.

Both Brine Leas School and Malbank School in Nantwich announced this morning they were having to close because of the conditions.

Reaseheath College in Nantwich and Cheshire College – South and West campus in Crewe are also closed.

A number of local primary schools are also shut, including Wybunbury Delves, Bickerton Holy Trinity C.E. Primary, Wrenbury Primary, and Sound Primary.

In a statement, Malbank School said: “Unfortunately, due to severe weather conditions, unsafe roads around the school, and ice and snow on site, we have had to close the school today.

“The safety of our students and staff is our priority. Please stay safe, and thank you for your understanding.”

Nantwich Library on Beam Street is also closed today.

Meanwhile, motorists are reporting treacherous conditions and long delays on the busiest roads in the area, including the A500 between the M6 and Nantwich, the A530 Whitchurch Road, and the A529 between Audlem and Nantwich.

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: “All of our gritting routes were treated yesterday (January 4th) at 2pm and again at midnight.

“Our gritters are currently out carrying out additional gritting on main routes to help keep the network moving.”

In a statement on their website, they say: “When there is a risk of ice (usually this is where the temperature is forecast to fall below 1 degree centigrade), we aim to grit roads before ice forms.

“When snow is forecast we aim to grit main roads and routes to accident and emergency hospitals before the snow falls.

“After snow has fallen, we work to clear the roads. We start with main roads and designated routes to accident and emergency hospitals, then major commuter routes, busy bus routes and routes to secondary schools.

“We may have to return to these routes even after starting to clear other roads if they start to freeze again or if new snow falls.

“To assess the likelihood of snow or ice and decide when to grit, we use a computerised system that takes road surface temperatures and other information from sensor sites around Cheshire East, plus Met Office weather forecasts.”

There are treacherous icy conditions on rural routes and estate roads where gritting has not taken place.

For some, the snowfall brought a touch of seasonal pleasure in Nantwich town centre, where the Christmas lights were still glowing and the Tree of Light continued to shine.

Shoppers and passers-by paused to enjoy the wintry scene, with four young people even taking the opportunity to build a snowman in the town square.

A Met Office weather warning of snow and ice for South Cheshire remains in place until midday today (January 5th).

(Pics by Jonathan White)