Welsh Icons News | Monmouthshire: Update on how severe weather is affecting services

Monmouthshire council officers are working hard to deliver services as usual this week.

Many services are now running in Monmouthshire, although there is still some disruption due to the current severe weather conditions.

The council’s ‘One Stop Shops’, the council switchboard, emergency lines and County Hall are open.

The council is keeping the public informed of service changes through one stop shops, website (www.monmouthshire.gov.uk) and its Twitter page (www.twitter.com/Monmouthshirecc).

The web site continues to have a high level of use and remains the first point of call for up to date service information.

General outlook:
MCC is planning for heavy snow on Tuesday.

The Met Office has said there is a high risk of a severe weather event affecting much of Southwest England along with southern and central Wales.

A band of heavy snow will move northeastwards during Tuesday afternoon and the first part of Wednesday before easing off. New snow accumulations of 5-10cm are expected widely with 10-20cm likely in places. This is more likely in parts of South Wales and on high ground of Southwest England.

On high ground there is also a moderate risk of over 30cm. The strengthening southeasterly wind is likely to lead to drifting of snow.

This could cause disruption to travel networks and lead to problems with power lines.

The snow is likely to turn to rain across much of Cornwall and on south coasts of Southwest England on Tuesday evening as well as Southwest Wales.

(Issued by the Met Office at 11:50 on Monday, 11th January 2010)

Paul Matthews, Monmouthshire County Council’s Chief Executive, has again praised the dedication of staff in providing services during the spell of wintry weather. He said:

“We are continuing to work had to ensure that we deliver key services to local people. Things are getting back to normal, and we’re all working hard to plan for the continuing cold weather and the possibility of more snow arriving this week.”

Schools:
The decision to close a school is taken by the head teacher. At present, the following schools in Monmouthshire were open today (11th January):

Caldicot Comprehensive
Caldicot Green Lane Juniors
Caldicot West End Infants
Cantref Primary
Castle Park Primary
Chepstow Comprehensive
Cross Ash Primary
Deri View Primary
Durand Primary
Goytre Fawr Primary
King Henry V111 Comprehensive
Kymin View Primary
Llandogo Primary
Llanfair Kilgeddin
Llantillio Pertholey
Llanvihangel Crucorney Primary
Monmouth Comprehensive
Overmonnow Primary
Pembroke Primary
Raglan Primary
Rogiet Primary School
St Mary’s RC Chepstow
Shirenewton Primary
The Dell Primary
Thornwell Primary
Trellech Primary
Undy Primary
Usk Primary
Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni

Closed schools:

Llanfoist Fawr Primary – will open Tuesday 12th January to pupils
Ysgol Y Ffin

If there are any other schools closed the website will be updated as soon as MCC is notified.

Social Services:

Community Meals has operated a normal service since Friday – all meals were delivered.
Countryside services has provided two 4×4 vehicles with drivers which has enabled deliveries to otherwise inaccessible service users.
Meals vans were parked around county with additional supplies in case further bad weather.
Hard to reach users were also provided with additional frozen meals in case further deterioration in weather/road conditions
Meals were also provided for users who would normally attend day centres which are closed
Today is operating as it was on the weekend but with onlyone1 4×4 vehicle and a driver assisting from countryside service.
The Home Care Service is continuing to prioritise calls.
Families are assisting where they are able – visits are continuing to high need/risk service users. The calls are reduced in number per day where able. Staff are walking in locality patches and 4×4 being used to reach users in difficult areas
Severn View Residential and Mardy Park Residential are running as normal.
There have been some issues with certain staff unable to get in but local staff providing cover when needed.
Severn View Day Centre and Mardy Park Day Centre remain closed as roads to icy etc to drive and pathways and pavements treacherous for users.
All users have been phoned and meals are being delivered where needed plus home visits are also being made to local users in need.
Ty’rfenni was closed on the weekend but is now open.
Buses went out late this morning to accessible areas. All users have been contacted to check they’re safe and support has been offered at home to high need users where able.
Monmouth Day Services, Social enterprise projects and Boverton House are now open after being closed on the weekend.
Budden Crescent has been operating services as normal.
Monnow Vale has some people in for day services where they can’t get in. Staff are visiting and meals being provided. Risk assessment is being undertaken and support being prioritised.

All agencies are endeavouring where possible to cover calls by a variety of means, including using 4×4 vehicles or walking to service users’ homes. We are assisting each other to maintain a good level of service.

If you need to contact social services please do so via the one stop shops

Refuse Collections:
Refuse collections resumed this morning (11th January) as a normal Monday collection day.

Dave Harris, MCC’s Head of Waste, said:
“You can now put your rubbish out as we can now reach most urban and some rural areas.

“We will do our best, however we will not be able to get to all normal locations, particularly the most remote places, due to snow and ice still lying. Some refuse that has been put out is also covered with snow and frozen so it will create some problems.

“We hope in cases where it is too difficult to collect that residents can be patient a little longer.

“Subject to weather we plan to continue through the week as normal, albeit there will be extra refuse out because of Christmas and missed collections due to weather.

“Anything we can’t get to this week will fall to next week’s normal collection day.

“The civic amenity sites are open for residents who want to take waste or recycling there themselves.”

Libraries:
The following libraries are open:

Abergavenny Library
Caldicot Library
Chepstow Library
Gilwern Library
Monmouth Library
Usk Library

People are advised to contact the libraries directly to check on opening and closing times.

Leisure Centres:
Leisure centres are open and aiming to run a normal service from today (Monday 11th January). However you are advised to check with your local Centre before setting out to ensure that the activity you require is running.

Adult Education:
The adult education service is operating restricted opening hours, subject to weather conditions.

Before setting out, all students and users are advised to ring the centre to identify whether individual classes, clubs or activities are running.

Students who attend classes at Boverton House, Chepstow, should ring Chepstow Leisure Centre for information (01291 635745).

The following adult education centre car parks are closed until further notice: