It’s beautifully dramatic out there, but it’s any colour you want as long as it’s grey.
So, the Beast from the East (I’m sure I worked with her once) has made itself felt and we’ve had some really quite grim weather conditions here in Brownhills over the last 24-48 hours, and now we have powdery, dry snow to compound the misery.
First up: School closure info. You can check out the latest on the Walsall Council Facebook Page here, their twitter here, but they seem to be doing running updates as and when to this post here.
There’s also a Facebook page here for Walsall School Closures although obviously, being crowdsourced, the veracity of information there cannot be guaranteed. The main post for closures on that page is embedded below. It seems to be undergoing edits as new info becomes available.
Click the ‘see more’ link to see the list in full.
If you have any details to add, comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
Staffordshire school closures are listed at this page here.
Walsall College has not mentioned whether it will be open or not at the time of posting (Thursday night), so keep an eye on their Facebook page here.
Brownhills Community Centre have said they’re open but may close early if weather deteriorates.
Ogley Hay Nursery is apparently closed too.
Chasewater Innovation Centre has posted with it’s customary terseness that the site is closed, and you’re to call someone else if you get stuck on site there. Charmed, I’m sure.
The authorities have been gritting and will continue to do so, although with temperatures very low (-5 degrees C at 4:30pm in Brownhills) and more snow due before daylight, it’s unlikely grit will be effective so it’s going to be very icy out.
Gritting teams will be out treating the agreed gritting routes many times, both day and night, to try to keep us all moving safely. All routes comprise roads on the primary network and other roads carrying substantial volumes of traffic together with some roads with high risk of early ice formation. Footways are not routinely treated and neither are general residential estate roads, public rights of way and car parks. Self-help grit bins will be replenished as necessary.
I reiterate that grit is not fairy dust and that people’s expectations as regards it’s effectiveness seem rather too high. Take care folks. Want to grumble we don’t cope as well as other countries? Read this great Economist article here, pointed up by old adversary and nice bloke Dan Slee.
Gritting operations throughout Walsall BOROUGH have been pretty intensive all week, but the conditions – dry, and very cold – are not optimal for road salt to work.
Clean and Green also had this to say about refuse collections:
At present, it is our intention that the crews will be out tomorrow (Friday 2nd March 2018). The roads will be assessed very early in the morning to ensure conditions are safe. If your bins are scheduled for collection tomorrow, Friday 2 March, please leave your bins out and we will collect them as soon as is practically possible.
Household Waste Recycling Centres (tips)
Fryers Road is closed today and tomorrow, as usual.
At present, it is our intention that Merchants Way will be open tomorrow as usual.
Don’t be too upset if the bin wagon doesn’t arrive – they are awful things to drive on icy roads and no refuse collection is worth endangering anyone.
Public transport – all you can do here is check operator Facebook and Social Media accounts before you travel. National Express West Midlands (Facebook page here)
As to rail services, best check Network Rail here.
Walsall Housing Group have not said if they’ll be open or not – check their Facebook page here.
The coos at Highfields near Chasewater are clearly made of tough stuff.
One thing I will ask today is that whilst I understand the weather is frustrating, can we please endeavour to be kind to those poor folks answering phones and manning social media for organisations you may have issues with. They are humans, and doing a job – they deserve a bit of respect and humanity. Thanks.
Bad weather happens folks – it really is a bugger. But there’s nothing we can do but sit it out if at all possible, and to those who have to go out to work, I wish the very best. Stay safe, folks – and thanks.
Walsall Council posted the following message regarding the weather situation on their Facebook page late Thursday afternoon. I applaud them on this and it’s well worth a read.
Severe weather message
Based on the best information currently available, we are expecting the snow this afternoon to be followed by much heavier snow in the early hours of Friday morning. Added to this, more snow is expected tomorrow afternoon.
Our priorities over the coming days are:
• the safety of our residents, and in particular, our most vulnerable residents
• maintaining critical services
Looking after our most vulnerable residents
Measures are in place to ensure carers, other social care workers and emergency contact officers are able to attend to our most vulnerable residents around the clock.
It is important to look after yourself but also be a winter friend and look out for your elderly or vulnerable neighbours. For more tips on keeping warm and keeping well in this cold weather visit http://healthywalsall.co.uk/keeping-warm-keeping-well-in-wa…
Gritting
Gritting teams will be out treating the agreed gritting routes many times, both day and night, to try to keep us all moving safely. All routes comprise roads on the primary network and other roads carrying substantial volumes of traffic together with some roads with high risk of early ice formation. Footways are not routinely treated and neither are general residential estate roads, public rights of way and car parks. Self-help grit bins will be replenished as necessary.
Schools
It is possible that many Walsall schools will be closed tomorrow, but we would emphasise that the decision to close schools is made by the Head Teacher/governing body and then communicated to parents and carers directly.
Bins
Crews are out today, but may not be able to complete their rounds. If your bin is not emptied today, leave your bin out and we will collect it as soon as is practically possible.
At present, it is our intention that the crews will be out tomorrow. The roads will be assessed very early in the morning to ensure conditions are safe. If your bins are scheduled for collection tomorrow, Friday 2 March, please leave your bins out and we will collect them as soon as is practically possible.
Household Waste Recycling Centres (tips)
Fryers Road is closed today and tomorrow, as usual.
At present, it is our intention that Merchants Way will be open tomorrow as usual.
Markets
The markets at Bloxwich, Walsall and Willenhall will not be open on Friday 2 March or Saturday 3 March.
Cemeteries
Cemeteries are open today and are currently expected to be open tomorrow if conditions are safe.
Sport & Leisure
Leisure centres are open today and are currently expected to be open tomorrow (Friday). However, some services may be restricted and the centres may close early if conditions warrant this.
Falls prevention sessions and supervised jogs for tonight and tomorrow (Friday) have been cancelled.
New Art Gallery
The New Art Gallery is currently expected to be open as usual.
Libraries
All libraries are planned to remain open, subject to safe levels of staffing being available. If safe staff access is a problem, there may be some reduction in opening hours.
The Mobile Library and Home Library Service will not operate
The Leather Museum will open as normal – again subject to safe levels of staffing being available.
Forest Arts Centre
Bookings for tonight and tomorrow night have been cancelled. The centre will be open in the daytime tomorrow.
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Fab update, thsnk you. Stay safe and warm.
hi bob just a note to my friends the way we were event that was to take place at bourne heath hayes sadly is cancelled tomorrow ime sure a lot of wrinkleys are all reminising to the families with those words why i remember when snow and ice was sky eye bless you all keep warm and remember there was only oss and carts inthem days