Return of the white stuff...

Reporter: KEN BENNETT and Richard Hooton
Date online: 16 February 2010

HEAVY overnight snow across the borough brought fresh misery to weather-battered Oldhamers still reeling from the recent blizzards.

Although Oldham Council’s 10-strong team of gritters, backed by support crews, had been working on roads since before dawn, driving conditions in some parts of the area were hazardous.

Motorists heading to Oldham from Saddleworth faced nose-to-tail driving for a time on the notorious A62 where several inches of snow had fallen.

By 3am there were widespread reports of snow falling heavily in some parts of the borough and across Saddleworth villages.

Delph village baker, Denise Wildes, who makes an early-morning journey across the tops to Marsden, said: “The snow seemed to come from nowhere.

“It was really bad over the tops. At least several inches had fallen and driving conditions were very tricky.

“I just hope we are not in for another prolonged period of snow again.”

There were several prangs, with a taxi losing control and crashing into a barrier on Mellor Street, Lees, at 7.15am.

On Abbeyhills Road, Glodwick, a bus and a car collided causing hold-ups.

Motorcyclist Danny Scotock (32) fell from his bike on Oldham Way but Chronicle photographer Anthony Miller was one of several people who came to his aid. They helped him to his feet, recovered his Yamaha bike and escorted him to his workplace at First Bus.

Councillor Mark Alcock, Cabinet member for the environment, warned: “Motorists should curb their speed.

“The roads are passable and problems can be avoided if drivers respect the conditions. Speeding is just not an option.”

He said the snow squad had been on alert from midnight when rainy conditions on low-lying roads turned to snow.

He added: “We have been monitoring the weather on an hourly basis and we were ready and in place when the snow actually began to fall.

“We have plenty of grit and our teams are running a full operation to keep the roads open and traffic moving.”

Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers said the snow wouldn’t last.

He added: “It won’t snow much more, maybe a bit on the hills.”

At Heights above Delph, cut off for several days by blizzards a few weeks ago, publican Michael Fancy said they still planned to celebrate Pancake Day.

Michael, who runs the Royal Oak, said: “We can still drive in and out to the village – and we’ve got all the ingredients for pancakes!”

A poll of 20,000 AA members showed most feel councils did a poor job in keeping minor roads open during the wintry weather.

A total of 75 per cent said authorities had not done very well with gritting. Only 2 per cent thought they had done well.

Efforts on main roads got a less frosty reception with 81 per cent saying the treatment of these roads was acceptable or better.