Schools advised to close tomorrow

Photo: Daryl Thorpe

The winter wonderland at St Patrick's Primary School yesterday.

Rochdale Council has advised all schools across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale to close tomorrow (Thursday 4 December) due to the forecast snow and high winds.

The Met Office indicates that conditions are set to get considerably worse overnight with heavy snowfall predicted. 42 schools were closed yesterday because of heavy snow in the early hours of the morning. Now, in preparation for severe weather tonight, the council recommends that all schools close tomorrow.

Sue Brown, Head of Schools at Rochdale Council said: “Decisions to close schools are not taken lightly, but health and safety has to be the priority. In light of the snowfall expected overnight and significant transport disruption as a result, we have recommended that schools take this precautionary measure.

"All indications are that the weather will have improved by Friday when we are advising all schools to re-open.

"To minimise disruption to the school calendar it is expected that the day will be made up for pupils by schools using one of their planned training days.”

Treacherous driving conditions and heavy traffic across the borough left members of staff and pupils stranded on their way into school yesterday, and, given the chaotic conditions on the roads throughout the morning, the Council has advised that all teachers and children avoid similar traffic problems tomorrow and stay at home.

Cars were abandoned on roads across town yesterday and many had to be pushed to safety, with reports of minor crashes taking place throughout the borough.