Icy blast shows no signs of thawing

Photo: Picture by VINCENT BROWN

PRETTY as a picture... Dobcross Square last night.

SNOW could ease by the end of this week but Oldham will continue to battle sub-zero temperatures as the big freeze takes hold.

As the mercury tumbled to -2.8C overnight, snow showers blanketed the borough, turning village squares into picture postcard scenes.

Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers said although snow showers might continue today, the borough should escape any further snowfall as the week draws to a close.

He said: “We might see some snow showers today but there shouldn’t be any more snow tomorrow or Friday.

“It should stay dry up to the weekend, with temperatures hovering around freezing during the day and dropping to -5C at night. Next week should remain cold.”

Fire crews said they have been surprised by how remarkably quiet they have been with fewer call-outs and residents staying home.

One firefighter, from Mossley Fire Station, said: “We’ve been tentative on our drives out in the night and haven’t seen a single car on the roads. The fact it has been so quiet has surprised us.”

Meanwhile, bus passengers are being advised of disruption across the borough today.

Michael Renshaw, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive’s bus & rail director, said the majority of bus services were operating, but advised of delays and revised bus routes.

He added: “In areas where roads and estates are not being served, passengers are advised to walk to the nearest main road to catch a bus.

“Rail and Metrolink have not experienced any significant disruption to date. But longer-distance train services, particularly from the North-East, have been experiencing delays because of the weather conditions in that area.”

He said passengers should keep up with weather bulletins, check their operator’s website before travelling and allow extra time for journeys.


School closures

AS the Chronicle went to press, Delph Primary, Kingfisher School, Richmond, Hey with Zion, Springbrook and St Edward’s primaries were all closed for the day. Hathershaw College and St Augustine’s RC School was due to open at 10am for Years 9, 10 and 11 and The Radclyffe School was due to open as normal but then close at 1.10pm.

A TOTAL of 15 schools closed yesterday: Hulme Grammar Schools, Bare Trees Primary, Delph Primary, Greenhill Primary, Hey with Zion Primary, Kingfisher School, Mather Street Primary, Medlock Valley Primary, Mills Hill Primary, Oasis Academy (Kaskenmoor site and South Chadderton site), Richmond Primary, St Augustines RC School, St Edwards RC Primary, Hathershaw College and The Radclyffe School.



Weather eye on the buses

81: Operating via Huddersfield Road and Ripponden Road then via Vulcan Street and normal route. Journeys towards Oldham operating via normal route.

X82: Evening journeys will operate directly along Milnrow Road between Shaw and Milnrow omitting Buckstones loop.

83: Operating to Sholver via Wilkes Street, journeys from Sholver operating normal route.

X84: Evening journeys will terminate at Delph crossroads.

149: Unable to serve Coppice.

184: Diggle and Huddersfield journeys currently starting/terminating at the Navigation PH.

350 (Ashton-Oldham) Journeys operating normal route Ashton to Top Mossley, then via 353 route to Greenfield station and normal route to Oldham but omitting Delph village and Carrcote.

408: Not operating via normal route.

415: Unable to serve Greenacres, operating via Huddersfield Rd and Stamford Road to Holts Estate.

425: Now operating to Holts, inbound journeys via Lees New Road, outbound journeys via Wildmoor Avenue. Service unable to operate via Abbeyhills Estate — operating along the main road. At Fitton Hill operating via Honeywell Lane and Keswick Avenue to Ashton Road as the evening journeys operate. l 451/452: Not operating round Holts estate, operating via Newhey Road.

719: Unable to operate up to Hopwood Hall College, terminating on Rochdale Road.

403/4: Serving main roads in Shaw only.

458: Unable to serve Starring Way.

343: Unable to serve Stamford Rd/Winterford Rd in Mossley.

353: Unable to serve High Grove Lane.

407: Serving main roads only.


For information on rail services, check www.nationalrail.co.uk. For the latest information on Metrolink services, check www.metrolink.co.uk .


GMPTE will post regular updates of changes online at www.gmpte.com