Parents and pupils advised to follow school updates online

Parents, pupils and staff have again been advised to check Aberdeenshire Council’s website over the weekend for the latest news on school closures.

A total of 17 schools were fully open and 46 open to pupils who live locally this morning (Friday, January 8). A further 13 were closed to school transport pupils, 15 closed to pupils only and 81 fully closed.

A decision will be made on Sunday (January 10) about school closures on Monday, January 11.

Bruce Robertson, Director of Education, Learning and Leisure for Aberdeenshire Council, said: “It’s good to see that a number of schools have been able to open or partially open today so our pupils can continue their education.

“The weather forecast is for very low temperatures over the weekend and I will be monitoring developments so a decision on closures can be made on Sunday.

“Every effort will be made, within the bounds of safety, to ensure more schools reopen next week, assuming, of course, we have no further large accumulations of snow.

“For the latest on school closures parents, pupils and staff should check Aberdeenshire Council’s website and tune in to their local radio station.”

Where schools cannot re-open or it is not possible for pupils to attend, head teachers have been advised to make learning activities and resources available on the GLOW network for pupils to access for classwork and revision purposes.

For the most up-to-date information on school closures visit: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

For further updates, parents, pupils and staff can also follow Aberdeenshire Council on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/aberdeenshire

Due to the extreme weather conditions and recent school closures, the closing date for those wishing to register their child for a pre-school place has been extended by a week to Friday, January 22.

More information on pre-school registration can be found on Aberdeenshire Council’s website at: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/parentscarers/pre%5Fschool/

Meanwhile, Aberdeenshire Council road crews were out in force again today, continuing the road treatment programme across the network.

In total 62 gritters and ploughs, 40 footpath gritters, 65 farmer’s snowploughs, 38 diggers and four snow-blowers were deployed, with a total manpower of 228 people.

The lowest temperature today was –15.3 degrees Celcius at Tillyfourie, near Inverurie.

There was no significant additional snow this morning however temperatures are very low resulting in widespread icy patches throughout the area especially were there is hard pack snow and on untreated roads.

Main roads are mostly passable with care and side roads and non-priority footways are affected by hard packed ice. Air temperatures as low as minus 20 have been recorded in Inverurie.

One or two light snow flurries are possible on Saturday and it will remain very cold with persistent frost and a minimum temperature of minus seven.

There is a chance of further light snow flurries on Sunday as bitterly cold and strong winds freshen with a minimum temperature of minus five.

Monday and Tuesday are expected to see cloudy and windy conditions with light sleet or snow.

Small amounts of snow are expected at low levels but some bigger volumes are expected in hilly areas where existing snow cover will drift in the strong winds.

The minimum temperature is expected to be minus three at the beginning of the week.

The roads currently closed due to the weather are:

o A941/B9002 – at Cabrach

o B974 – Cairn O Mount

o A939 / B976 – Corgarff – Gairnsheil – Crathie

o C56M – Tullynessle to Clatt not advised

o A947 – Hatton o Crook due to Jack Knifed lorry.

Due to the current adverse weather conditions contractors working on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council to repair the damage to the cliffs above Pennan have had to suspend work for safety reasons.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Director, Iain Gabriel, said: “The slope is covered with snow and the frosty ground conditions have made access to continue drilling unsafe.

“We will continue to monitor weather forecasts and the contractors will return as soon as the conditions improve and it is safe to do so.”

Stagecoach has also updated residents of service delays. The latest on bus routes throughout the north-east can be found at:

www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupdatedetails.aspx?Id=391

Refuse collections are continuing, although conditions are causing problems in some areas.

The waste service aims to catch-up with any missed or delayed collections as conditions improve, and further advice can be found at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/waste/christmas.asp