There's Snow Stopping at Lyneham
10th January 2010
As bright sunshine across Wiltshire helped with the thaw, weather experts warned more freezing temperatures and snow are on the way. Temperatures did not rise above freezing throughout the day, and overnight temperatures will fall to -5 degrees and a flurry of snow is expected.

Sunday was bitterly cold, with the easterly wind strength increasing, the wind chill factor gave the impression of being between -10 degrees and -15 degrees centigrade. The air temperatures are expected to remain cold throughout the whole of next week.

Salt and gritting stocks held by the Highways Agency, Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council are sufficient for many days, bosses say, and additional stocks are on order.

Emergency services are all well equipped on fuel stocks and specialist vehicles.

Superintendent Matt Pullen said: “The multi-agency task force would like to thank everyone in our county for their patience throughout this difficult period. Motorists have been particularly aware of the problems, and the number of vehicles using the road have been greatly reduced. We hope our advice has been of help to everyone.”

Despite police warning Monday morning commuters of more problems on their journey to work, a car over turned on the Lyneham Banks B4069, causing traffic congestion to other motorists. The additional snowfalls on Sunday night, linked to bitterly cold winds and freezing overnight temperatures created hazardous driving conditions.

Supt Pullen said: "The message is clear. Unless your journey is essential, and you are able to complete is safely, do not drive."

Schools across the county have decided to open later, although many may not open at all if conditions are poor again.

Meanwhile staff at RAF Lyneham are working around the clock to ensure the runway can stay open so they can continue to support operations in Afghanistan despite the adverse weather conditions.

The station’s snow and ice control plan, Operation Blacktop’, is ensuring that the airfield remains operational at all times. The runways, taxiway and essential parking bays are being continually cleared of snow and ice to ensure operations continue, even contingency plans have been made to ensure the latest repatriation, scheduled for Monday are not hindered.

Patrick Rule of Lyneham's Met Office said: "The station was closed for a brief period of time on Wednesday morning during the snow but it had been pretty well forecast so we were able to make contingencies for keeping the runway as clear as possible and that then allowed us to keep the station open for emergency diversions for military aircraft.

"It is now reasonably clear up here, but we have had a huge increase in enquiries from people at the station and people from the schools wanting to know about the weather.

"We are having routine briefings with the station operations and with more snow forecast for the weekend we are looking at our priorities for getting staff in to help keep the runway open."

A spokesman for RAF Lyneham said: "The Mechanical Transport Section are responsible for the LADs AM Smitt/Mercedes vehicle that removes snow and ice and enxures that the runway and taxi-way surfaces have a suitable grip by using special non-hazardous chemicals."

It has been mentioned that RAF Lyneham has been fully committed to keep the runway and station open and it was pointed out that Brize Norton, the station earmarked to host all air transport and air refuelling in the near future, was closed for lengthy periods, 'the runway was black' a term which means the landing surface can not be used at all. Even scheduled military flights into the Oxfordshire airbase have been diverted to other airports.