Dorset traffic: Snow brings chaos to county’s roads

Several crashes happened during rush hour that brought most of the Dorset Council area’s key routes to a standstill on November 21. Bournemouth[1], Christchurch and Poole’s traffic was its typical slow self, but the short-lived sleet failed to worsen conditions. Meanwhile, Morebus struggled to maintain all of its services outside the BCP region – with the operator saying vehicles had been affected by the ungritted roads in east Dorset[2].

Mike Freeborn, Morebus area operations manager, said Lytchett, Corfe Mullen and Wimborne areas were “particularly affected” causing problems to the numbers 3, 4, 6, 10, 13 and 13a. Camera Club member Debs baker has snapped this crash near Holmsley tea rooms in the New Forest. (Image: Debs Baker) He added: “We’ve had a number of school routes affected/delayed this morning and because the drivers and buses then go onto service work this has impacted a number of these from either operating or operating punctually.

“There has been heavier snow falling around Blandford/Dorchester which has led to the vast majority of this service and school services not operating this morning.” During the morning, the police had no option but to close the A35 both ways between the Monkey’s Jump roundabout in Dorchester and Winterbourne Abbas. Crashes also closed Long Rew Lane near Martinstown, Portesham Hill in Portesham and the A354 Blandford Hill in Blandford – where two cars and a van had collided.

(Image: Dorset Traffic[3] Cops) Emergency services struggled to cope; a spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service said: “At times, we’ll need to drive slower than usual, to help keep our crews and members of the public safe.” Dorset Police’s spokesman added: “We would also ask that due to the adverse weather conditions in the area at this time, motorists avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.”

By the afternoon, Dorset Council said it had seven snow ploughs out on critical routes and that it would add more if and when conditions change. “Vehicles on our roads that are making it difficult for our snow ploughs to get through in places,” a spokesman said. “Please avoid unnecessary travel.” And on the railways, a tree that had fallen down blocked lines between Bournemouth and Southampton, with the line blocked eastbound until around 7pm.

RAC Breakdown spokeswoman Alice Simpson said: “The first taste of winter means drivers are suddenly contending with the some of the worst road conditions we’ve seen all year.”

References

1. ^ Bournemouth (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)
2. ^ east Dorset (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Traffic (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk)