Schools getting back to normal, car parks ploughed

A JCB clears snow before dawn on the council’s Waterloo Street car park

Lessons disrupted by snow were almost back to normal today.

All of Oldham’s 116 schools were open, but The Radclyffe School, Chadderton, was closing at 1.10pm, and South Chadderton School was sending pupils home at 1pm.

Our Lady’s, Royton, was closed to all but Year 11 and 6th form pupils following a gas leak yesterday.

For most commuters, the journey to work was easier, with main roads clear of snow and ice, and temperatures staying slightly above freezing.

The main problems were caused by getting off icy side streets: some abandoned cars blocked the way for other drivers. The A672 Ripponden Road remained closed from the Saddleworth exit at junction 22 on the M62. Main roads in Saddleworth were open, but the slow thaw has made little impression on the drifts that paralysed outlying districts.

Double parking on Huddersfield Road by motorists afraid of getting their vehicles stuck on side roads caused traffic chaos, with cars heading into Oldham during the morning rush-hour backed up into Scouthead. Similar problems are being encountered on Abbeyhills Road.

In Oldham all town centre car parks were expected to be reopened today, after diggers cleared the worst of the snow.

Chronicle weatherman Damian Rodgers said the slow thaw would continue until at least Friday, with dull, grey and cloudy skies staying over Oldham.