Red Cross are called in to Edinburgh Airport

By ALASTAIR DALTON and GARETH ROSE
Published on Friday 9 December 2011 00:12

MORE than 60,000 people were without power last night and about 60 passengers were left stranded at Edinburgh airport after the storms caused havoc to transport, schools and city centres across much of Scotland.

Hundreds of air passengers faced disruption after 100 flights were cancelled at Edinburgh and some 45 at Glasgow.

The Red Cross was brought in to provide blankets and emergency hygiene supplies for passengers facing a night in Edinburgh’s terminal building, while others left to spend the night in city hotels.

Though the winds were expected to abate overnight, further weather disruption was signalled by the Met Office, with a return to the threat of ice today and snow tomorrow.

Commuters and parents were among those worst hit by yesterday’s hurricane-force winds, with three of the country’s major road bridges closed and three in four schools shut.

Scottish & Southern Energy, which owns Scottish Hydro, said more than 50,000 of its customers did not have electricity, while ScottishPower said 8,000 of its were also without power.

Overturned vehicles, fallen trees, landslips and flooding caused 95 incidents which closed many parts of the trunk road network.

The north-west Highlands were virtually cut off from the central belt by the closure of the main A82 and A9 roads south.

Damage to buildings led to key streets in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow being sealed off. These included debris falling in Princes Street in the capital, Christmas lights crashing on to Union Street in Aberdeen, and unsafe buildings in Renfield Street and Byres Road in Glasgow. Masonry from a restaurant was blown on to a street in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

Major congestion was reported on roads around the Forth Bridge by information service Trafficmaster after the crossing was closed mid-morning. Other delay troublespots included the A9 and M9 following a series of crashes and fallen trees.

Passengers arriving from Dubai at Glasgow airport had to wait for an hour and a half to disembark because the winds were too strong for an air bridge to be used safely.

A ScotRail train struck a fallen tree near Crianlarich while travelling between Oban and Glasgow with 64 passengers on board. Another, travelling in the opposite direction with 36 passengers, was halted by fallen trees near Ardlui at the north end of Loch Lomond.

An Edinburgh-Aberdeen train hit a metal shed blown on to the tracks at Thornton in Fife.

Several other railway lines were shut by trees and other debris blown across tracks, with a blanket 50mph speed limit forcing the cancellation of some services and increasing journey times on others.

The Tay Bridge was shut after winds exceeded its 80mph limit, forcing the cancellation of Edinburgh-Aberdeen trains. A ScotRail spokesman said: “We continue to run trains and to review the impact of the weather and respond accordingly.”

The entire Caledonian MacBrayne ferry network on the west coast was shut down, apart from a single Stornoway- Ullapool sailing. Stena Line and P&O cancelled services between Cairnryan and Belfast and Larne.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned of further disruption to come today. She said: “There’s a real risk of blizzard conditions. I am relieved to say – although there is no room for complacency – that there have been no serious injuries or fatalities. I hope that situation continues.”

Ms Sturgeon said the NHS had coped well despite power cuts at Belford Hospital in Fort William and Victoria Hospital in Rothesay. The day surgery unit at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy was evacuated when part of the roof blew off.

Festive attractions were closed in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

• Additional reporting by John Ross and Frank Urquhart

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Comments

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9

Petrol Head

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 05:42 PM

Why do the Red Cross have to attend Edinburgh Airport? The place has excellent sanitary facilities, running hot and cold water, numerous food outlets and even a couple of bars. And if people get tired of waiting around, then they can get into their cars which are parked nearby, or a taxi and go home. Where exactly is the problem? the only issues I'd have with being stranded at Edinburgh Airport (apart from being bored out of my skull) is not having a proper bed for the night and running out of money to pay for the food and drink.

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8

KINGFISHER1

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 12:02 PM

I concur. Simply a slight Atlantic storm. Hardly ruffled the water! Air passenger disruption, minor only. Not like an Icelandic Volcano! I will leave that to 2012!

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7

vistaero

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 11:37 AM

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6

BILL K

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 11:12 AM

no 1.You always seem to get in first with your idiotic comments.What a sad life you must lead!!!!

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5

Heinz Doofensmirtz

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Did the Red Cross have to pay the £1 waiting charge for their transport and will BAA be making a substantial donation to the red cross to cover costs?

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4

Navvy

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 08:34 AM

it would seem that wind turbines do not like windy days

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3

Mareng

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 04:23 AM

"a slight winter storm".... are you on medication? Can't wait for the delay in the tram charade - to be blamed on the weather, though............

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2

Rolfe the Imaginary Friend a.k.a. Bawbag Grant Stott

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 01:13 AM

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1

Charles Linskaill

Friday, December 9, 2011 at 12:21 AM

Round 1, and we never faired well to the slight winter storm, All makes you wonder where we would all be, if we really were hit by bad weather for long periods of time.

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