Timely test to avoid more winter disruption

EMERGENCY services and transport chiefs have begun planning for winter in an effort to avoid a repeat of the widespread disruption caused by heavy snow last year.

They met yesterday for Exercise Polar Storm, which aims to improve collaboration between agencies and assess how effective current plans are.

Former transport minister Stewart Stevenson quit his job last December following criticism of his handling of the chaos caused by unusually cold weather, which saw hundreds of motorists stranded overnight on gridlocked roads.

Heavy snow and freezing temperatures paralysed the network, with major routes shut and severe disruption to rail journeys.

Transport minister Keith Brown addressed nearly 200 delegates from Scotland’s emergency services and public, private and transport sectors at yesterday’s meeting.

Mr Brown said: “Scotland has now experienced two severe winters in a row, with last year’s becoming the worst in several decades. We have ensured that we use the lessons learned to improve our services.

“Extreme weather will inevitably cause disruption, but we want to make sure we continue to advance our thinking and procedures, and make improvements where possible to ensure we are best equipped to keep that disruption to a minimum.

“We want to keep people and goods moving, but also ensure that there is clear, co-ordinated information available. We all have our part to play.”

He stressed that it was too early for the Met Office to say what kind of winter Scotland was facing this year.

Mr Brown also announced the Scottish Government’s Get Ready for Winter week to encourage individuals and communities to prepare for the cold months.

The campaign starts on 24 October and will be delivered in partnership with the British Red Cross and a range of other organisations.