Perthshire in Chaos as Big Freeze

Feb 26 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PARTS of Perthshire were plunged into icy gridlock yesterday as wintry weather returned with a vengeance.

Heavy snow, which exceeded eight inches in places, caused overhead power lines to tumble onto the tarmac in the Blackford, Greenloaning and Dunkeld areas.

Officers from Tayside Police confirmed that live cables fell across both lanes of the A9 at Netherton Farm near Blackford at approximately 8am.

Electric wires also frightened motorists travelling in the Dunkeld and Greenloaning vicinity between 10am and noon yesterday.

Duncan MacDonald, a spokesman from Scottish Hydro Electric, said up to 11,000 homes were without power across its catchment area – “the majority of which” were in Perthshire.

Mr MacDonald said: “We’ve been working in conjunction with the Met Office, and have our own high-tech weather forecasting equipment, so we knew this snowfall was coming.

“Extra staff have been brought into our emergency centre in Perth to cope with additional calls.

“They have been very busy, but we have the numbers to cope with it.

“Power supplies have been re-directed to other parts of the network to minimise disruption caused by lines coming down.

“And we have a register of vulnerable customers who we are working with closely to ensure their needs are met.

“Everyone at Scottish Hydro is working as hard as they can to make sure power is restored to all areas as soon as possible.”

Anyone experiencing difficulties with their power has been asked to telephone 0800 300 999.

More than two feet of snow brought Auchterarder to a standstill.

One resident said: “It was like a scene from the Fifties as locals walked to the shops.

“There was no way of getting out of your drive yesterday morning.

“Branches on the trees were bent-double, or snapping with the weight of the snow – it was ridiculous.”

The A9 Perth to Stirling road was closed both ways, causing havoc for commuters.

Snow gates on the A93 at the Spittal of Glenshee and on the A9 at Blair Atholl were shut, along with hordes of other minor roads.

Tayside Police Inspector Grant Edward, the force’s senior roads officer, described conditions yesterday afternoon as “chaotic”.

“People in Perth are being lulled into a false sense of security,” he declared.

“Once you get up onto the A9 the conditions become utter chaos. I would urge motorists not to travel unless it is an absolute emergency.

“Back roads will be equally as treacherous as main ones like the A9, so drivers should be cautious.

“Ourselves, Perth and Kinross Council and the road’s people at BEAR Scotland are working flat out.”

A spokeswoman for Perth-based travel firm Stagecoach told the PA public transport has also fallen foul of the weather.

She said: “Many of our bus services in Perth and Kinross’s rural areas are suffering severe delays, particularly in the north and west.

“Yesterday, services to Dunning, Crieff and Aberfeldy were suspended due to poor road conditions.”

Trains passing through the Fair City, on the main line between Aberdeen and Glasgow, were delayed, particularly as it was believed a tree fell across the line at Gleneagles yesterday morning.

Extra snowploughs have been out on the streets to help combat the latest flurry of wintry weather.

Perth and Kinross Council said additional vehicles and teams on foot had been drafted-in to minimise disruption.

A spokesperson said yesterday: “The council has deployed four timber contractors to clear branches as soon as possible.

“We have augmented our fleet of snow ploughs, and a cutter, with an additional eight contractors with tractor ploughs – who are working on the roads network.

“Footway crews are operating on pavements and walkways in Crieff, Auchterarder, Blackford, Comrie, and Aberfeldy at present.

“At the moment, our focus is on the priority route network. It’s hoped to move onto other roads later today.”

Meanwhile up to 25 primary schools were shut by education bosses from Perth and Kinross Council on Thursday.

Secondary school students at Breadalbane Academy, the Community School of Auchterarder and Crieff High School were also given the day off. Arngask Primary was closed to youngsters attending P1 and nursery classes only.