Waste collections and other Flintshire Council services impacted snow

An amber weather warning for Flintshire has been issued with heavy snowfall expected to continue throughout the day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A yellow weather warning for snow has been in place since 7am and is in force until 2pm on Friday.

However the Met Office this morning upgraded it to amber – with the snow expected to cause “significant disruption” today and into Friday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Forecasters now expect up to 20 cm of snow falling in Flintshire with as much as 30cm on higher ground.

Snow and ice are likely to cause significant travel delays on roads, rail, and bus services.

All schools in the county are closed today as a result of adverse weather conditions.

“The decision was taken by the emergency management response team based on the forecasts that the council was receiving from various sources and the forecast for this morning in particular.” Cllr Ian Roberts, the leader of Flintshire council said.

The council has also closed all its administrative buildings and Connects Centres.

Garden waste collections have been cancelled but council refuse collectors are battling treacherous road conditions and black bins are currently still being emptied where possible.

Mold Household Recycling Centre (HRC) is closed as a result of the snow, Buckley is being cleared of snow and will open later this morning, the other HRC’s in the county remain open.

All leisure centres and libraries (including mobile library and home delivery) are closed today in the county due to snow.

Cllr Bernie Attridge said he has had several messages regarding sheltered housing complexes.

“I can advise that staff are trying to get around and clear as much snow as they can from the footpaths.”

“Also the recycling teams are still out doing their best to collect not all streets and roads will be collected today due to access issues.”

“If anyone in [Connah’s Quay] Central Ward is stuck in their property and needs prescriptions or any urgent shopping send me a message and I will do my best to help.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales this morning, Cllr Roberts said “I would like to thank all of our operatives and the management to have been dealing with this weather).

Gritters go out on many occasions when the forecast comes in, and temperatures are expected to drop towards freezing.

But they are really going to have their work cut out, I would suggest that our greeting teams are going to have a very considerable workload today.”

More updates to follow….