The county has had another cold night with sleet and snow which has drifted on higher roads. Widespread ice is causing difficult driving conditions on many roads across the county though most main roads are clear. Temperatures are expected to remain very low for the rest of today.

The national reserves of salt for treating roads are heavily depleted and local authorities are under considerable pressure to conserve salt stocks. In North Yorkshire we have already taken action in response to this with salt currently only being applied to the Priority One and Priority Two roads and main town centre footways. We have stopped using salt on Priority Three routes and we are unable to refill salt bins except in exceptional circumstances. We will continue to plough Priority Three routes and to apply grit and sharp sand in particular situations.

In order to conserve salt stocks further, the government has directed local authorities to reduce their route treatment by 25%. In response to this we are amending the Priority Two network so that one route into each village community is treated, instead of the multiple points of access which may have been treated up until now.

Ends

14-01-10

Road closures, updated Thursday 14 January, 2010

The following roads are closed/blocked due to the adverse weather conditions:

Richmond Area

• B6270 Swaledale Head.
• C32 Buttertubs
• C32 Fleet Moss
• C108 Robin Cross
• C38 Askrigg West Moor
• C29 Tan Hill passable with care
• C30 The Stang passable with care
• Many minor high level routes either blocked or only passable with care.
• The road from the village of Wass to the A170 is closed due to icy conditions and will re-open once the ice starts to thaw.

Skipton Area

• C32 Fleet Moss
• Oughtershaw
• B6160 north of Buckden passable with 4x4 only
• Several other roads passable with care

Whitby Area

• C20 Blakey to Castleton
• Several minor roads blocked

Kirby Misperton

• C60 Blakey Bank/C20 Blakey to Castleton likely to be closed until the end of the week
• Rosedale to Egton