Gridlock as snow settles on roads
18th December 2009
Travellers are experiencing transport disruption in parts of Greater Manchester as snow and ice settled on main roads overnight. In Bury, routes around Holcombe Brook, Ramsbottom and Tottington are gridlocked due to the road conditions.
The amount of snow on roads prompted complaints by drivers over gritting by Bury Council.
The council said it had gritted at 2100 GMT on Thursday and has sent gritters back out on Friday morning.
Some motorists had been in their cars for more than two hours, and moved only about half a mile (0. 8km) in Ramsbottom.
'Cold' for grit
One told the BBC: "The roads are just awful. I cannot see any way that they have been gritted.
"Drivers are sliding everywhere. I can't imagine why it is so bad when weather warnings were in place and the council had enough time to grit. "
Many abandoned their vehicles and walked on the hilly routes, including Bury New Road towards the M66 motorway.
A spokeswoman for Bury Council said the grit may not have been as effective because of the cold temperatures.
Source: BBC