Falkirk snow: Bin collections suspended, priority to keep main roads clear

Falkirk Council’s roads team battled heavy snow overnight to clear priority routes and roads and help the NHS keep vaccination centres open.
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Working long hours in treacherous conditions, the team has treated hundreds of miles of priority routes, but intermittent snowfall and strong winds throughout Monday night made things difficult.

Roads bosses say that lesser priority routes and housing estates will not be treated until they are satisfied that the main roads are operational.

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Refuse collections have been suspended and residents are advised to keep their bins out between Wednesday and Friday for collection.

Clearing paths around the Kelpies (Pic: Michael Gillen)Clearing paths around the Kelpies (Pic: Michael Gillen)
Clearing paths around the Kelpies (Pic: Michael Gillen)

There have been difficulties in the Braes in particular, where snow drifts from fields which made keeping roads clear very challenging.

The A801 Avon Gorge and Darnrigg Road between Shieldhill and Slamannan were briefly closed overnight until ploughing managed to open them early this morning although drivers must take care.

Routes to the Falkirk area’s coronavirus vaccination centres have been a priority for the gritter teams, as have roads leading to emergency services stations, medical centres and the Royal Forth Valley Hospital.

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A council spokesperson said: "With more snow expected through today, all available Roads workers have been deployed and are working continuously to keep main roads open and minimise impact on the NHS and emergency services."

To see Falkirk Council gritters in real time visit the website.

Advice from Police Scotland is to travel by vehicle only if safe to do so - and adhering to current coronavirus restrictions.

Bin collections will start again when safe to do so and today's scheduled bulky uplifts will now take place on Wednesday, February 10.

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