Latest information on school closures, home to school transport, road closures, gritting, refuse and recycling collection and other issues affected by the severe weather.
Updated 6pm, Sunday January 10
Home to School Transport
Home to School Transport will be provided as needed tomorrow, but disruption to the service is expected.
As of 6pm today (Sunday), the predicted further snow has not arrived and very few Head Teachers have contacted the Council over the weekend to inform them of their opening arrangements for tomorrow (Monday January 11).
Assuming the situation remains like this, Home to School Transport will run where possible tomorrow.
However, this position is subject to change, should the weather deteriorate and school opening situations change.
Aside from any future developments in the weather, Home to School Transport services will be affected by the current icy conditions and the decision to only treat the Critical Highway Network, due to critically-low levels of salt.
As per the article below, the continued freezing weather and dwindling levels of salt have forced the Council to prioritise the roads that are treated. Until further notice, the authority will be treating 40 per cent less of the roads than it has been so far.
As well as the decision to only focus on the Critical Network, the authority has also closed the mountain roads of Bwlch, Maerdy and Rhigos until further notice.
These decisions will affect not only general motorists, but Home to School Transport operators.
All drivers are urged to take extreme care while out on the roads, especially on side roads that have not been gritted.
Pedestrians are also urged to beware of the fact that pavements remain icy and slippery.
Home to School Transport operators are urged to only operate services where it has been confirmed that the school is open – and only then if road conditions mean they can be operated safely.
They are advised to use discretion when it comes to altering routes in order to protect their own safety and that of their customers.
Where a contract includes collection from home, operators are urged to contact the parents or carers by telephone before setting out to check local road conditions.
Any operator that feels the road and weather conditions prevent them from operating a safe service are urged to contact the school and the Council’s Transport Unit immediately so alternative arrangements can be made.
All are once again reminded that the above arrangements and decisions were made in light of the current road and weather conditions and are subject to change should conditions deteriorate.
Critical salt levels lead to decision to prioritise road treatment – drivers urged to take care
The Council will, until further notice, only treat what is known as the Critical Network of highways – around 40 per cent less of the amount of road that has been treated on a daily basis so far.
The authority has been forced to prioritise its gritting operation in such a manner due to the dwindling salt levels, uncertainty as to when new salt deliveries will be made and the threat of more bad weather on its way.
The focus on the Critical Network will include all A roads and other identified routes that form the county’s main infrastructure, in a bid to ensure routes remain clear for motorists and that emergency service access is protected.
Drivers are urged to take extreme care and to only make journeys if absolutely necessary.
The critical network includes all A roads and the below carriageways:
- Heol Penderyn, Rhigos
- Heol Y Graig, Rhigos
- Rhigos Road, Rhigos
- Dunraven Street, Treherbert
- Gwendoline Street, Treherbert
- Wyndham Street, Treherbert
- St Alban’s Terrace, Treherbert
- St Alban’s Road, Tynewydd
- St Alban’s Bridge, Blaenrhondda
- Blaenrhondda Road, Blaenrhondda
- Blaen-y-Cwm Road, Blaencwm
- Park Crescent, Cwmparc
- Park Road up to the junction with Weston Terrace, Cwmparc.
- Church Road, Ton Pentre
- Gelli Road, Ton Pentre
- Ty Isaf Road, Gelli
- Penrhys Road, Ystrad
- Llwynypia Road, Llwynypia
- Court Street up to junction with Fern Terrace, Tonypandy
- R/O Court Road UL, Clydach
- Section of Road to Council Offices between the junction of R/O Court Road and the roundabout on the A4119, Clydach
- Cambrian Avenue, Hendreforgan
- Gelli Areal Road, Hendreforgan
- High Street, Gilfach Goch
- Coronation Road, Gilfach Goch
- Llanharry Road, Brynsadler
- Tyla Coch, Llanharry up to junction with Ty Isaf Road
- B4595 Section of Talbot Road, Llantrisant between A4119 and Cross Inn Road
- B4595 High Street, Llantrisant up to Heol y Sarn
- Crown Hill, Llantwit Fardre
- Heol Dowlais, Efail IsaHeol y Ffynnon, Efail Isaf
- B4595 between Llantwit Fardre and Beddau
- Power Station Hill up to and including Upper Boat Roundabout
- Dynea Road, Rhydyfelin
- Holly Street, Rhydyfelin
- Dyffryn Road, Rhydyfelin
- Brook Street into Oxford Street up to fire station, Treforest
- B4275 Cilfynydd Road to Glancynon Terrace up to fire station
- Road off A4059 Mountain Ash to Cefn Pennar
- B 4275 New Road into Commercial Street into Dyffryn Street into Graig Street onto High Street as far as junction with Perthcelyn
- Canal Road into Brodeg to Cwmbach Road back onto Canal Road to Abernant Roundabout to A4059 Roundabout
- Gasworks Roundabout to Cardiff Road to Cwmaman Road up to Mountain Road, Cwmaman
- B4276 Llwydcoed Road. Llwydcoed
- B4275 Hirwaun Road, Trecynon onto Cwmdare Road up to Junction with Heol Brynna, Cwmdare
- Station Road C221 Ferndale into Commercial Street C221, Blaenllechau.
- Aberllechau Road to Hillside Terrace onto Victoria Street to Bryn Terrace, Wattstown.
- Graigwen Road, into Whiterock Avenue, Mayfield Road and back onto Graigwen Road, Pontypridd.
- Gelliwastad Grove, Thomas Street, Graigwen Place onto Graigwen Road, Pontypridd
- High Street, The Graig into Factory Lane onto Sardis Road, Pontypridd
- B4273 Berw Road, Pontypridd to Ynysybwl
- High Street, Clive Terrace, Heol y Plwyf, Tai Newydd, Glanfrwyd Terrace, Clydach Road, Clydach Terrace, Windsor Place, Ynysybwl
Schools
As of 6pm this evening (Sunday January 10) very few Head Teachers have contacted the Council to notify them of opening arrangements for tomorrow (January 11).
The latest information on school openings, as it is being received by the Council, is being updated on the School closures page
Examinations are due to begin next week and schools have said that, even if they are forced to close to all other pupils, they will do all they can to provide accommodation for candidates.
Pupils undertaking exams next week should have been contacted personally by their school to make them aware of the arrangements. If they are unsure, they are urged to contact their school first thing Monday.
Social Care
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and our partner Social Care providers have adverse weather contingency plans so can be expected to provide the best service possible within prevailing conditions. If services are disrupted, social care staff will endeavour to ensure client contact is maintained.
The Council is urging residents to be mindful of elderly and frail neighbours this Winter, particularly during this cold snap. If you are going to the supermarket or chemist does a neighbour need some provisions or a prescription can you help? Would you be able to clear a neighbour’s path so that social care services can continue to support them
Salt Stocks
Across the UK, salt stock levels are falling and suppliers are unable to fully restock Councils.
Coordination of the distribution of salt is now being made via the Welsh Assembly Government’s salt cell.
Rhondda Cynon Taf, which has already gritted over 30,000km of road, using 5,300 tonnes of salt, was expecting 12 further deliveries to keep its stocks up.
It has only received four deliveries, which has led to the decision above to focus on the critical network only.
Again, such a decision was only made following an appraisal of the situation in the county and consideration of the severe weather warning issued by the Met Office in relation to further freezing, icy conditions and snowfall.
The authority will continue to assess the situation constantly and make changes if needed.
Motorists and pedestrians alike are urged to take extreme care on the highways and pavements.
