Services in Monmouthshire have been hit by the current severe weather conditions, although where possible our staff have continued to provide front line public services.
Staff are working from local offices or home and essential front line social care services are being delivered with the aid of 4×4 vehicles.
The Council’s One Stop Shops are all open, as is the Council switchboard and emergency lines. County Hall is open, although this afternoon’s Cabinet Meeting has been cancelled. All offices will, however, close at 3.30pm to enable staff to get home safely. Out of hours services, including gritters, will of course continue to run.
The current position in Monmouthshire is as follows:
Gritting
Monmouthshire County Council took the precaution of having full stocks of grit before the bad weather set in before Christmas. We currently have around 40% (approx. 2,700 tonnes) of our stock left. This is enough for another week at current usage rates. They have ordered more, but supplies are being co-ordinated nationally. So absolute priority will be given to those who have run out or are close to running out. This means we have not yet been re-supplied. We are reviewing stocks daily and if necessary we will need to prioritise routes – but that would only be if conditions stay as they are now.
Their staff have worked through the night with our 20 gritters / snow ploughs to keep our roads as clear as possible. There was a full shift change at 19.30hrs last night and another at 07.30hrs this morning. Gritting and/or ploughing has been continuous. From this morning grounds maintenance staff have continued helping with the gritting of pedestrian priority areas (such as Town centres, Car Parks, Sheltered Accommodation and Health Centres).
They prioritise principal routes for gritting and as soon as we are satisfied that the main routes are safe, gritters move onto minor secondary routes and small link roads. They have operatives out on all priority gritting routes all day and night gritting as required. They also have extra staff manually gritting footways and side routes where possible.
Schools
The decision to close a school is taken by the head teacher. At present, the following schools in Monmouthshire are closed:
- Archbishop Rowan Williams
- Boverton House Pupil Referral Unit
- Caldicot School
- Cantref Primary
- Castle Park Primary School including Red Robins Playgroup
- Chepstow School
- Clydach Pupil Referral Unit
- Cross Ash Primary
- Deri View Primary
- Durand Primary
- Gilwern Primary
- Govilon Primary
- Goytre Fawr Primary
- King Henry V111 Comprehensive School
- Kymin View Primary
- Llandogo Primary
- Llanfoist Fawr Primary
- Llanfair Kilgeddin
- Llantilio Pertholey Church in Wales Primary
- Llanvihangel Crucorney Primary
- Magor Church in Wales Primary
- Monmouth Comprehensive
- Mounton House School
- Osbaston Church in Wales Primary School
- Our Lady & St Michaels RC
- Overmonnow Primary
- Pembroke Primary
- Raglan Primary
- Rogiet Primary
- Shirenewton Primary
- St Marys RC Primary
- The Dell
- Thornwell Primary School
- Trellech Primary
- Undy Primary
- Usk Church in Wales Primary
- Ysgol Y Fenni
- Ysgol Y Ffin
Public Transport
Home to School Transport and community service vehicles (Grass Routes) will not run until further notice.
All subsidised bus services within Monmouthshire have stopped until conditions improve.
Social Services
All day services are closed today. Service users have been contacted individually and alternative support arranged where this is essential.
The community meals service is not operating today due to transport difficulties. In many cases people have been provided with frozen meals. Home Care services will visit people who have been identified as being at risk.
All of our social work offices have some staff presence. We have capacity to respond to mental health act emergency assessments should this be required.
Refuse Collections
There will be no refuse collections today or tomorrow. We are reviewing the weather conditions and hope to resume normal services on Friday.
Libraries
The following libraries are closed:
- Chepstow Library
- Gilwern Library
- Monmouth Library
- Usk Library
Leisure Centres
The following leisure centres are closed until further notice:
- Abergavenny Leisure Centre
- Caldicot Leisure Centre
- Chepstow Leisure Centre
- Monmouth Leisure Centre
Adult Education
All Adult Education classes are cancelled today. In addition, the following Adult Education Centres are closed:
- Overmonnow Family Learning Centre
- Gilwern CEC
- Abergavenny Youth and Community Centre
Museums
The following museums are closed:
- Abergavenny Museum
- Chepstow Museum
- Monmouth Museum
Outlook
The latest weather advice is that the snow risk will ease from midday. But there is a later risk of snow drifting and icy conditions overnight. We will continue grit roads where appropriate and make decisions on issues such as school closures according to local conditions.
Paul Matthews, Monmouthshire County Council’s Chief Executive, has praised the dedication of staff in providing services during the last three weeks of wintry weather. He said:
“A lot of our services have been affected by today’s heavy snowfall. But the real story is how many of our services we have been able to keep going. So I’d like to thank our staff for doing such a fantastic job. It would have been difficult enough to keep key services going during a normal stretch of bad weather. But the length of time that we have had these conditions, together with the Christmas and New Year holidays has really piled the pressure on.”
“I’m proud that our main roads remain open. I’m proud that we are continuing to deliver services to the people who need them most. But most of all, I am proud that our staff have had the dedication to provide these services, often working around the clock and throughout the Christmas holidays.”
He added:
“Public sector workers come in for a lot of criticism, most of which is unfair. But it is not until days like today that people can really understand how crucial effective local public services are to their day to day lives.”
