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Heavy snow causes roads and power disruption Heavy snow causes roads and power disruption
(about 1 hour later)
Heavy snow is causing major disruption to travel around Scotland, with thousands also facing a power blackout and the cold weather set to continue. Thousands of homes will remain without power for at least another day as suppliers struggle to reconnect people cut off by heavy snow and high winds.
Many people in Dumfries and Galloway have been stuck in their cars overnight - and police are warning those in the area not to travel. The Isle of Arran and parts of the south-west mainland of Scotland were particularly badly hit by power cuts.
Engineers had problems reaching damaged cables as they attempted to restore electricity supplies. Power companies are working with councils to send generators to affected areas while engineers have been working to clear routes and restore energy.
The Kintyre peninsula, Arran and the south west were worst affected. Their work was hampered by disruption to travel around Scotland.
Many lines were brought down by the weight of ice forming on the cables. A special ferry was organised to take six megawatts of generating capacity to Arran, enough to power 6,000 homes, while a further 5MW was being sourced to supply the rest of the island and 7MW was supplied to Campbeltown.
The Scottish government says that 18,000 properties remain without power, with blocked roads, high winds and blizzards hampering the repair effort. A spokesman for Scottish Hydro said: "We are still faced with very difficult access problems in Arran and the Kintyre peninsula.
In some places in the south west, engineers encountered 10ft-high snow drifts. "Two steel towers have collapsed under the weight of ice on the conductors near Crossaig in Kintyre.
Emergency generator Generators stuck
Some supplies were restored overnight, but customers on Arran were warned that they could be without power until Monday. "We are making good progress in areas north and west of Kintyre and have restored a number of communities already. However, given the scale of the damage found, there will be isolated communities that won't be restored to power tonight."
Power companies are working with councils to send generators to affected areas and the Whiting Bay Hall and Auchrannie Spa and Country House, in Brodick, are open for residents with power, heat and refreshments. About 5,000 customers in Kintyre will remain without power as generators being transported to the peninsula are stuck at Kennacraig and at least 1,500 homes in the north and west of Arran will also not be reconnected until at least Sunday.
Hotel general manager Richard Small told the BBC: "Being the only place on the island with power has been quite eventful. Whiting Bay Hall and Auchrannie Spa and Country House, in Brodick on Arran, are open for residents with power, heat and refreshments, while Lamlash fire station is also open all day with power available through a local generator.
"We have a generator for one of our hotels, so everybody's descended on one hotel and one restaurant. Gordon Hay, from the Achrannie Resort, told the BBC: "It has been quite a challenging time for everyone.
"So it's been going like a fair all day with all the locals and we're full of guests as we are fully booked." "We were quite fortunate here at the hotel - we have a lot of stock here, we can handle our staff and our guests and we are dealing with some of the locals as well.
Lamlash fire station is also now open all day, with power available through a local generator. "We have a lot of locals coming in for food and drink, but I think the main concern around the island is probably the lack of access to heat, light and power."
A spokesman for Scottish Hydro said: "Mobile generators are on the island and more are en route, but access is proving difficult. Other areas badly affected by power cuts are around Campbeltown and on the islands of Islay, Jura and parts of Bute, according to Argyll and Bute Council.
"We're trying everything we can to get people back on today, but we can't give an indication of when everyone will have their power restored." Snow drifts
A special ferry was organised to take six megawatts of generating capacity to Arran, enough to power 6,000 homes, while a further 5MW was being sources to supply the rest of the island, while 7MW was supplied to Campbeltown.
More than 14,000 properties suffered power cuts in Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Arran on Friday.
A spokesman for Scottish Power said: "We have approximately 6,000 homes still off supply in the south-west, predominantly in the Wigtownshire area.
"We are working closely with the local authority who are seeking to clear roads of snow to allow us to access the faults. The main issues are still blocked roads and snow drifts."
'Food and heat'
Other areas badly affected by power cuts are around Campbelltown and on the islands of Islay, Jura and parts of Bute, according to Argyll and Bute Council.
"Contingency arrangements are in place to make sure that people have food, heat and are well cared for," the council said in a statement."Contingency arrangements are in place to make sure that people have food, heat and are well cared for," the council said in a statement.
"Everyone is working closely together to cope with the impact of the severe weather in Argyll and Bute communities and local companies have provided support and equipment." "Weather conditions have been challenging, with snow drifts of up to 15 feet and high winds."
About 18,000 properties suffered power cuts in Dumfries and Galloway, Argyll and Arran and a spokesman for energy provider Scottish Power said 6,000 homes were still off supply in the south-west, predominantly in the Wigtownshire area.
Driving conditions were also widely affected by snow and high winds, mainly in the south-west and north-east.Driving conditions were also widely affected by snow and high winds, mainly in the south-west and north-east.
Several roads were closed in Dumfries and Galloway and Shauan Bythell, from Wigtown, was one of many to become stuck in the snow at about 19:00 on Friday. Some drivers on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway spent the night in their cars and were given support by emergency services and the local mountain rescue volunteers.
He told the BBC on Saturday morning: "I was driving back from Glasgow to Wigtown - it was fine most of the way until more or less Castle Douglas. One lane of the carriageway has reopened, but drivers in the south west are being urged not to drive unless travel is essential.
"At seven o'clock, a lorry had jack-knifed at Palnuir, so since seven o'clock last night we haven't moved." Colin MacKenzie, of trunk road operators Amey, said: "With further snowfall, strong winds and blizzard conditions forecast for this evening, we appeal to motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
Mr Bythell said he had managed to get some sleep and had extra clothes, wellingtons and food in his car. Routes treated
The stranded motorist said there were more than 100 cars stuck on the road, although a Scottish government spokesman said that anyone who remained in their cars had done so voluntarily as it is not aware of anyone not offered a form of accommodation. "Amey will continue to focus our front line efforts on treating affected areas to ensure roads are kept open wherever possible.
Speed restrictions "Although all routes are treated, we cannot guarantee they are ice free and we again urge motorists to drive to the prevailing weather conditions."
Police have advised the public not to travel in the Dumfries and Galloway area because of "extremely dangerous" conditions and to avoid parts of rural Angus. Snow is expected to move out of the worst affected areas by Saturday evening, but low temperatures will remain.
Roads were also closed in Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute and West Lothian and, although all roads were now clear in the Highlands, there was a warning about drifting snow. The Skye, Kessock, Friarton, Tay and Forth Road Bridges all had speed restrictions in place because of strong winds, many ferry routes were disrupted and some train services were also cancelled.
The Skye, Kessock, Friarton, Tay and Forth Road Bridges all have speed restrictions in place because of strong winds and many ferry routes are disrupted.
Ferries were cancelled between Gourock and Dunnon or Coll and Tiree, with disruption likely on many other routes.
Scotrail said that there were no trains running between Kilmarnock and Carlisle or Ayr and Stranraer because of the snow.
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were all open - and flights were taking off and landing - but weather problems in other parts of the country meant delays and cancellations were likely.Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were all open - and flights were taking off and landing - but weather problems in other parts of the country meant delays and cancellations were likely.
The disruption led to a meeting of the Scottish government's Resilience Room (SGoRR) to co-ordinate the response. The disruption led to a meeting of the Scottish government's Resilience Room to co-ordinate the response.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "According to the Met Office, the cold weather looks set to continue for some time yet, so our winter fleet of 130 vehicles will be working flat out across the weekend on the trunk road network provide gritting and road clearing operations." Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "According to the Met Office, the cold weather looks set to continue for some time yet, so our winter fleet of 130 vehicles will be working flat out across the weekend on the trunk road network to provide gritting and road clearing operations."
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