Elected Member Briefing Note 2022, Issue 61-63
Multiple briefing notes have been issued today to update elected members on the impact of severe weather For ease of reference these are included on this page
About this briefing note
Report by: Mary Willis, Communications & Design Co-ordinator and Lisa Potter, Communications & Performance Manager
Date: 16 December 2022
Subject: Snow and burst water main - impact on schools and roads
Responsible Officer: Barbara Renton, Executive Director, Communities
Details
Purpose
To update elected members on the impact of a burst water main leading to the closure of two of our schools and heavy snowfall this morning which has impacted on other schools and road conditions.
Briefing information
Burst water main
A burst water main in the Muirton area of Perth was reported early this morning and as a result both Perth Grammar and St John's Academy are closed to pupils while this is dealt with. Online learning is being offered wherever possible.
Other school closures
Heavy snowfall this morning has meant a number of schools are closed due to weather and travel conditions:
- Aberuthven Primary School
- Cleish Primary School
- Comrie Primary School
- The Community School of Auchterarder
- Crieff Primary School
- Dunning Primary School
- Logiealmond Primary School
- Madderty Primary School
- Muthill Primary School
- Portmoak Primary School
- St Dominic's Primary School, Crieff
Fairview Special School, Perth is open to local pupils only.
Updates to parents
Established severe weather closure arrangements were put in place. Most schools have direct channels to communicate with parents through text message, email and social media and these were updated by individual schools as quickly as possible this morning.
Information was subsequently added to the school closures page on the Council's website and posted on the corporate social media pages as soon as possible after closures were confirmed.
Road conditions
Widespread snow across Perth and Kinross of varying depths, with the west and particularly south west (Crieff, Comrie, Auchterarder and across to Kinross and into Perth) worst affected. All roads are currently passable with care. The four nightshift drivers treated roads and while initially had been able to move onto treating auxiliary routes in Crieff, Perth and Blairgowrie when the snow fall started they were returned to the priority nightshift routes. Priority gritters have been back out on the category one route since 5am with all other available gritters also concentrating on the category one network roads before moving onto the category two routes. All available footway gritters are also out across the network.
The forecast is for snow through the day to 5pm, but with around half the predicted snow expected to have fallen by 9am this morning the impact of this will continue to be monitored.
Staff rotas
To support the drivers who are on standby they will be give a rest break at midday today to allow them to continue driving through late afternoon and evening through towards 9pm. The four nightshift drivers will also start early (at 9pm). Additional volunteers have also been sought from staff to support the Saturday cover so we will have more drivers available tomorrow than on a typical day.
Next update
An Incident Management Team meeting has been arranged for 11am and a further update will be circulated after that meeting.
Update 2 - 1pm
Burst water main
Scottish Water have been on site since this morning and the burst main has been repaired and the water supply turned on again as of 12 noon. Until the system if fully repressurised low flow and some discolourisation of the water should be anticipated for a short while.
Updated school closures
Heavy snowfall this morning has meant a number of schools are closed due to weather and travel conditions:
- Aberuthven Primary School
- Abernyte Primary School (from 12 noon)
- Cleish Primary School
- Comrie Primary School
- The Community School of Auchterarder
- Crieff Primary School
- Dunning Primary School
- Errol Primary School (from 1.30pm)
- Fossoway Primary School (from 12.30pm)
- Logiealmond Primary School
- Madderty Primary School
- Milnathort Primary School
- Muthill Primary School
- Portmoak Primary School
- St Dominic's Primary School, Crieff
- St Madoes Primary School (from 1.30pm)
Fairview Special School, Perth is open to local pupils only.
Road conditions
Two gritters from Highland Perthshire have been moved south to treat roads in the Crieff and Auchterarder areas (notably the A822). Farmers in the west and south west of Perth and Kinross are also providing support to the winter maintenance efforts today.
Work will also be carried out to clear routes into Perth city centre this evening to help provide workers and shoppers with access this weekend.
The forecast is for snow to move north of Perth by 1pm, with light snow showers predicted during the rest of the day. Temperatures are expected to rise marginally over the next few days with the snow forecast to turn to sleet and rain, however the longer-range predictions are for conditions to become colder again later on next week.
Support for vulnerable people
We are continuing to monitor the situation bearing in mind the severity of the weather and its impact on communities. The most vulnerable health and social care clients are being contacted to see if support is needed. While there were some issues for staff getting to Parkdale care home this morning arrangements are in place to ensure sufficient staff are on site.
26 Council houses around Perth and Kinross have to date been affected by flooding from burst pipes. It is expected that this number will rise; temporary accommodation has been offered/provided to a number of tenants and others have made their own arrangements.
Staff from our Park Attendant and Community Warden teams are out in North Muirton to offer support in the community.
Waste and recycling
All bin lorries are out on the roads today however some areas/streets may not be reached. All recycling centres are open except for Friarton in Perth, which was closed this morning but is reopening from 1.30pm.
Update 3 - 3.30pm
Updated school closures
Heavy snowfall this morning has meant a number of schools are closed due to weather and travel conditions:
- Aberuthven Primary School
- Abernyte Primary School (from 12 noon)
- Cleish Primary School
- Comrie Primary School
- The Community School of Auchterarder
- Crieff Primary School
- Dunning Primary School
- Errol Primary School (from 1.30pm)
- Fossoway Primary School (from 12.30pm)
- Glenlyon Primary School (from 1.30pm)
- Grandtully Primary School (from 1.30pm)
- Kenmore Primary School (from 1.30pm)
- Logiealmond Primary School
- Madderty Primary School
- Milnathort Primary School
- Muthill Primary School
- Portmoak Primary School
- St Dominic's Primary School, Crieff
- St Madoes Primary School (from 1.30pm)
Fairview Special School, Perth open to local pupils only.
Road conditions
Snow showers have moved north as forecast with light flurries in Blairgowrie, Glenshee and Kinloch Rannoch. Two gritters from the north of Perthshire have been working in the Scone/Kinnoull/Gannochy area during the day.
Snow ploughing and gritting work has also taken place on the Oakbank Road/Viewlands area of Perth to assist with school buses and other vehicles travelling at the end of the school day.
Work will also be carried out to clear routes into Perth city centre this evening to help provide workers and shoppers with access this weekend.
The forecast for the next few days includes a limited rise in ambient temperatures. An amber warning for snow and ice on high ground north of the central belt on Sunday between 3am and 9pm has also been issued by the Met Office. Sleet and freezing rain are also being forecast, with colder weather currently predicted for later next week.
Council housing
38 Council houses around Perth and Kinross have to date been affected by flooding from burst pipes. Seven households have been relocated to alternative temporary accommodation and other tenants have made their own arrangements. The situation will continue to be monitored.
Updates
No further updates are planned today. We are continuing to monitor the situation bearing in mind the severity of the weather and its impact on communities.
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