Bad Weather Closes 65 Highland schools (05/02/09)

A total of 65 schools in Highland were closed or partially closed today (Thursday) as a result of the adverse weather. This involved 50 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, one school for pupils with additional support needs and four nursery units.

The full list of school closures is as follows: -

Sutherland

Farr Primary; Kinbrace Primary;
Kinlochbervie Primary – closing 2.30 pm.
Farr High; Kinlochbervie High.

Ross & Cromarty

Avoch Primary; Coulhill Primary, Alness; Cromarty Primary; Fortrose Academy; Hilton of Cadboll Primary; Munlochy Primary;
Newmore Primary; North Kessock Primary; Park Primary, Invergordon; Tore Primary.
Fortrose Academy; Tain Royal Academy (closed to transport pupils only).

Skye & Lochalsh

Edinbane Primary; Dunvegan Primary; Uig Primary and Struan Primary, Karboat Primary, Kilmuir Primary

Inverness

Ardersier Primary – nursery; Holm Primary – Nursery; Lochardil Primary – Nursery closed; Raigmore Primary – nursery closed
Balnain Primary; Beauly Primary; Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis; Cauldeen Primary; Central Primary; Croy Primary;; Daviot Primary; Drakies Primary; Drummond School; Duncan Forbes Primary; Farr Primary; Foyers Primary; Glenurquhart Primary; Hilton Primary;; Kirkhill Primary; Merkinch Primary; Smithton Primary; Strathdearn Primary; Stratherrick Primary; Teanassie Primary; Tomnacross Primary;
Culloden Academy; Glenurquhart High; Inverness Royal Academy – open to 5/6 years only; Millburn Academy – Open to 5/6 years only

Badenoch & Strathspey

Abernethy Primary; Alvie Primary; Aviemore Primary; Carrbridge Primary; Dalwhinnie Primary; Deshar Primary; Grantown Primary; Kingussie Primary.
Grantown Grammar, Kingussie High

Nairn

Auldearn Primary; Cawdor Primary; Millbank Primary and Rosebank Primary.

Snow has affected roads all over the Council’s area.  The worst affected area is from Grantown to Carrbridge and up to Moy (A9). 
 
Grantown has over 2ft of lying snow.  The A939 and B9007 are closed due to fallen trees (weight of snow).
 
Problems also being encountered by HGVs diverting off the A9 at Aviemore (which is still closed at Moy) and re-routing via Grantown and Nairn and getting into difficulties. The Council has been working with Police to clear many stuck HGV’s on A938 and B9153.
 

-ends-

 
Note:
The Council’s stockpile of salt is generally around 60,000 tonnes at the start of the winter.
Current usage to date is 44,500 tonnes.
An additional 20,000 tonnes has been purchased recently to replenish existing salt stocks.
Current stock levels are estimated at approx 35,000 tonnes.