Snow fun for some as white stuff cause chaos
Snow fun Gildredge Park Eastbourne January 21st 2013 E04050P (L to R ): Liz Johnson, James and Patrick McCurry, Mark and Alison Naughton.
The weekend’s snow caused chaos as more than three inches fell across Eastbourne and the surrounding areas.
Some roads were impassable, public transport was disrupted and a handful of schools were closed as snow fell on Saturday and Sunday.
While families took to popular sledging spots at Paradise Drive and Butts Brow, bus and train services were restricted and gritters were out in force clearing the main routes in and out of the town, which was one of the last places in the country to get snow.
On Sunday afternoon the main A259 between Eastbourne and Seaford was closed just past the Downs Golf Course because of the worsening weather.
By Monday the snow gave way to icy conditions and commuters still faced long delays and amended timetables.
Some schoolchildren also got an unexpected day off as headteachers feared the conditions were too dangerous for staff and pupils to make it in or there were heating problems.
They included both Parkland infant and junior schools, Pevensey and Westham School, Lindfield School, South Downs Community Special School and Willingdon Primary School.
Other schools such as Ratton, Cavendish, Eastbourne Academy, Bishop Bell, The Haven and Stone Cross opened later than normal.
Teams of gritting lorries worked around the clock from Friday night clearing primary and secondary routes.
A spokesperson at East Sussex County Council, which is the authority responsible for the roads, said, “We are doing all we can to maintain essential council services for those who depend on them.
“Hippo bags of extra salt are being delivered to central locations in main towns and larger villages to help people clear pavements and pedestrian areas.”
In addition and because of the snow, limited parking enforcement was carried out in Eastbourne.
The spokesperson said, “We will be considerate of vehicles that are parked outside of the bay markings or partially on yellow lines as the snow melts.”
A spokesperson at Eastbourne Borough Council said the weekend snow and freezing conditions meant council services were under review on an ongoing basis but that recycling, garden waste and refuse collections were running as normal as possible with some delays because of ice on frozen footpaths.
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
