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Signing off - 5.44pm

That's all for today. Apologies for the inactivity over the last couple of hours - I've been on 'paper duty, preparing the snow coverage for this Friday's edition.

As ever, your thoughts and photos are welcome at ackrill.news@ypn.co.uk

Thanks for reading.

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Buses update, 3.36pm

Nigel Eggleton from Transdev says buses are now reaching most places. A few side roads in Bilton and the area surrounding Rudding Park are still causing problems. He had some interesting comments about the past couple of days too - but we have to save something for the paper...

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This Friday's Harrogate Advertiser

This week's edition contains plenty of snow, with your photos, the best staff pics and extensive written coverage.

Plus:

- Harrogate restaurant Rajput in court
- Nina Swift's new food and drink column
- Our special rail offer: London or Edinburgh for just £8 - first token on Friday.

... and a whole lot more.

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The situation on the roads, 3.06pm

Harrogate Council says it is expecting snow showers during the rest of the day and up to 5cm of snow overnight, though the likelihood of major snowfall on Thursday has diminished, according to a spokesman.

All main roads are clear, while the council has started ploughing estate roads, many following requests from residents.

The footway tractors have continued to keep all town centre footpaths open. They have been re-directed to the worst areas near schools, doctors' surgeries and medical centres.

The council will have three gritters working through the night, with an additional four joining them at 6am tomorrow, all on Priority One and Two routes, to prevent freezing and to clear any further snow.

Salt stocks are as reported yesterday, and should be good for at least five days.

Coun Don Mackenzie said: "We are continuing to review our resources, in order to expand further afield gritting and ploughing if we possibly can."

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Union spokesman praises Harrogate workers, 2.32pm

Daniel Houlgate from UNISON has paid tribute to public service workers across North Yorkshire for their work in recent weeks, including those currently clearing the roads.

Mr Houlgate, from Knaresborough, said: "I would like to pay tribute to colleagues here at Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and public service workers throughout the country who have worked so hard through the festive period, including Christmas Day and into the New Year, to clear our roads in horrendous weather, to keep our hospitals running, to provide our gas, electricity and water and to care for our elderly, the homeless, vulnerable children and the sick.

"A hearty well done!"

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Lots of great snow pics, 2.02pm

Here's a collection of fine snowy shots from staff photographer Graham Schofield.

A heap of your best contributed photos are still viewable here.

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Skiing to Harrogate, 1.38pm

Our area correspondent for Pannal, Anne Smith, tells us that her son Michael and his wife Helen skiied into Harrogate from the village.

The pair, who represent British at the sport, apparently wowed onlookers as they whizzed across the Stray.

More when we get it. I hope there are photos.

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Council update - part two, 1.15pm

Priority routes

All the main roads are clear, with Priority One and Two roads now in good condition. A spokesman said: "We only ploughed the Priority Two routes yesterday, there was no salt used. This has worked well where the road surface had not been compacted too much. Three gritters worked right through the night to plough Priority Three and estate roads to clear them before the frost last night. Once the temperatures started falling, they reverted to the Priority One routes again."

Pavements

Priority One footpaths are being salted in Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres.

Woodfield ward by-election – Thursday, January 7

As we reported yesterday, the by-election will still go ahead. Staff from the parks' team at Harrogate Council have been sent out with shovels to help clear access at the three polling stations. The count will take place on Thursday evening at Bilton Grange URC on Woodfield Road.

Refuse and recycling collection

Kerbside recycling services remain suspended.

There is a limited refuse collection service today. Where side roads are too deep in snow or there are too many parked cars, collections will not be attempted.

Rural and remote sites may be difficult to access, while the team is still trying to sort out the Christmas catch-up collection.

Catch up collections for December 31 and January 1 will go ahead today, weather permitting, with collections for January 4-6 to follow.

Closures

Nidderdale Leisure Centre - the pool is closed because of problems with boilers. Knaresborough, Jennyfield and Fairfax community centres are shut.

Tomorrow's Ripon Market has been cancelled.

Still open

Brimhams fitness suite, the Hydro, Knaresborough, Starbeck and Ripon pools, Ripon Leisure Centre, The Pump Room Museum, Mercer Art Gallery and Coppice Valley Nursery.

All main administrative and housing offices are open, but housing wardens and repair teams are tackling emergencies only.

More news to follow as and when it comes in. Or we go looking for it. I'm just starting to put together the copy for Friday's snow-venir issue. (Sorry.)

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Council update - part one, 1.05pm

Advice for drivers

- Penalty charge notices will not be issued today. But drivers who have abandoned their cars are being asked to retrieve them as soon as possible, to help keep traffic moving - particularly gritting vehicles.

- Highway engineers are "amazed" that drivers are not fully clearing windscreens and urge them to take a few more minutes to clear the whole vehicle for their own safety and that of other road users.

- Drivers are also urged to drive during daylight hours with dipped headlights. The glare of snow – coupled with snow covered vehicles – can badly affect other road users and pedestrians,

Gritting

- The council has seven gritters and five transit lowloaders delivering salt and grit to main road priority routes in Harrogate and Knaresborough. Three teams are working 12-hour shifts each.

- As we reported yesterday, the council has five days' worth of grit and will continue to source supplies, though supplies are struggling to meet demand. Gritting teams use twice as much salt in snow conditions than they do with ice.

- Salt bins are not being re-filled.

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Your comments, 12.34pm

Cheryl Lewicki, a reader, has got in touch regarding the council's handling of the current situation.

She said: "The local council seems to me to be doing a great job with snow clearance, and making their priority choices clear."

Your comments are welcome at ackrill.news@ypn.co.uk

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Coun Don Mackenzie on the roads, 12.29pm

"The buses are running and the main roads are now open. We're continuing with the plan we've outlined, prioritising those main roads. We will turn to the lower-priority ones as and when we are able to do so.

"There's work going on all the time. We have gritted Briggate in Knaresborough and Jennyfield Drive and we're hoping that those problems are now resolved.

"There's a very, very poor forecast ahead and I know full well that a couple of opposition politicians are suggesting that we spend 24 hours a day, every day, clearing the footpaths out of town, but if you clear it, you have to salt it as well, because otherwise it will freeze over again and that can be more dangerous than a path with a softish snow on it.

"We would not want to risk the use of grit salt on footpaths that are not particularly well-used compared with the town centres ones and ones near bus-stops, because we'll run out of salt. We're desperately keen that we don't run out of salt.

"It's a case of priorities."

Coun Mackenzie said Harrogate Council does respond to specific requests for snow clearance.

"Last night we went to Newby Crescent, because a number of disabled people live there. We had a request this morning concerning the entrance to Swinton Court, off Harlow Moor Road - that's on our to-do list. So we do respond."

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Harrogate firm warns of staff shortages, 12.06pm

Harrogate-based CCI, which distributes IT, storage and multimedia products to retailers like Amazon and Dixons, says the weather is starting to affect the confidence of employees – particularly those responsible for delivering goods across the country.

It claims the issue could ultimately prove as much of a problem as the driving conditions themselves.

Jason Stephens, logistics manager at CCI acknowledged that conditions were tough, but said: "The problem is that with blanket coverage of the 'crisis' across all media, some employees will take one look out of the window and opt against going into work, irrespective of what the actual driving conditions are like."

CCI has already seen one of its partners forced to close its distribution centre due to staff shortages, and anticipates that more temporary closures could occur over the coming weeks should the poor weather continue.

Mr Stephens said the company's entire logistics team continued to make it into work each day.

"Of course, driver safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we don't want anyone taking risks on the road," he said.

"Each employee just needs to use common sense and check out the conditions properly – hopefully then we'll all be able to work together to operate 'business as usual' and ensure consumers' retail demands continue to be met," he added.

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Stan goes national, 11.55am

The Guardian has picked up the Stan Beer story. Here's Matthew Weaver's rolling blog with all the national snow news.

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Gritting row rumbles on, 11.49am

Coun Reg Marsh (Lib Dem, Hookstone) has waded into the ongoing row over gritting, saying he would like to register his disquiet over Harrogate Council's decision to give priority to main roads, rather than pedestrian routes.

"It is my belief that residents in my ward deserve the same consideration as vehicular traffic using the main roads of Harrogate and Knaresborough.

"I have received phone calls from elderly residents who have been made prisoners in their own homes due to the lack of gritting on the estate roads. These people need to shop, pay bills and carry out other duties that they do at other times in the year. Furthermore because of their age it can be critical and even life threatening if they are to venture out on foot or by car on untreated roads and pavements.

"Can I suggest that the council set up and publicise a number that can be used by the elderly or any residents that cannot leave or risk leaving their homes due to the conditions. The council could then ensure that no one goes without essential needs to sustain them in these adverse times.

"Is it not time to give the same consideration to pedestrians as to car drivers and to all people who do not live on a main road? Keeping the main roads clear is fine if you can get to them to use them."

Yesterday we covered the war of words between MP Phil Willis and Coun Don Mackenzie.

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Weather warning from Harrogate Hospital, 11.32am

Staff at the emergency department of Harrogate Hospital are urging people to be careful, after a spike in the number of accidents, caused by the extreme weather.

Stephanie Davis, emergency department matron at the hospital, said: "We are seeing a large number of people coming into our emergency department with fractures and sprains, largely due to the snowy and icy conditions. Many have either slipped over or been involved in road collisions."

"We would urge people only to go out if they have to and to take extra time and care in the treacherous conditions."

Between December 24 and January 3, 151 people attended the department with a fracture or sprain, compared to 116 for the same period last year, and 89 the year before.

The hospital is stressing that there are plenty of local health services available for coughs, colds and other minor ailments. For advice, call 0845 46 47.

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Stan to the rescue! - 11.10am

Thanks to area news correspondent Jan Robinson for this gem of a story: "Due to the prolonged and adverse snowy conditions up the Dale, people may be having difficulty getting hold of supplies of bread, meat, etc., or indeed important items such as doctor's prescriptions.

"Don't worry - community-minded Pateley Bridge councillor Stan Beer has offered to come to your rescue! He says that if anyone can't walk to or get what they need from our local Lofthouse shop, then you can ring him at the Gorge on 01423 755666 or at home on 01423 711103 (please leave a message on the answer machine) and he will deliver the necessary supplies to your home.

"Thanks very much, Stan!"

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Trains update, 11.05am

Northern Rail reports that there are no disruptions to the services between Harrogate and Leeds, and Harrogate and York.

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Roads

Prior to the full update, some time after 11, here's an overview of yesterday and a bit of info about this morning, from cabinet member for transport Don Mackenzie.

"By 9pm last night, all the Priority One and Priority Two roads were in good condition - we only ploughed the Priority Two routes, there was no salt used. This worked well where the road surface had not been compacted to much," he said.

Three gritters worked through the night to plough Priority Three and estate roads.

This morning, footway tractors went out early to clear footways near schools and doctor's surgeries. These were mainly ploughed, but some grit was also put down, mixed with a small amount of salt.

Coun Mackenzie said: "We will continue to keep town centre footways open and safe."

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Council meeting at 11am

A meeting is being held at Harrogate Council at 11am, so we'll have a full update about roads and the gritting situation after that.

While you're waiting, why not have a look at some of the great photos contributed by readers during the last couple of days.

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Schools

A list of school closures can be found here.

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Buses

Transdev Harrogate & District is running a full service, with the following exceptions:

- Parts of the Knox estate in Bilton not being served

- Saltergate Drive area of Jennyfield not being served

- Still no service to the Knaresborough estates, though buses are operational between Harrogate, Starbeck and Knaresborough.

- Buses can't currently get into the Beckwith Knowle Business Park on Route 6

- The 110 bus can't access Pannal. Transdev has sent out a vehicle to clear the way, but suspects it won't be able to serve the village "for a while yet".

- Route 770 between Wetherby and Leeds: normal service, but can't get into Rudding Park and Follifoot, so sticking to the main roads.

- The 36 bus is fully operational, but there are roadworks in Killinghall.

- Service has been restored to Pateley Bridge and Skipton, but this is sticking to the main road.

- Ferrensby and Minskip are being served, but buses can't reach Arkendale and Staveley.

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Gritting

As we reported yesterday, the council has five days' worth of grit to treat roads in Harrogate and Knaresborough.