Midlands firms count cost of snowfall
Feb 6 2009 by Vicky Farncombe, Birmingham Post
Business leaders say Birmingham suffered another major loss in productivity as heavy snowfall forced schools and roads to shut.
John Lamb, spokesman for Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, estimated up to £50million could have been lost as parents stayed at home to look after children yesterday.
In Birmingham 253 out of 428 schools closed while many major roads were turned into treacherous skid pans by the latest blast of arctic-style snow.
Mr Lamb said: “We’re glad to see Birmingham City Council allowed heads to decide for themselves whether to open schools. That’s a much better approach than the blanket closure we’ve seen.”
One school setting a shining example is West House School in St James Road, Edgbaston which has never closed since it was founded in 1895 - 114 years ago.
Head teacher Alistair Lyttle said staff believed it was their duty to pupils and parents to uphold the school’s ‘business as usual’ philosophy.
The independent boys school, for children aged four to 11, has stayed open all week with about 90 per cent of staff making it into work yesterday.
“Our staff are wonderful,” said Mr Lyttle. “They have the attitude that they will get to work. Once they’re in and the school is open, parents then have the choice whether to bring their children in.”
Weather forecasters said up to 10cms of snow had fallen across the West Midlands by 6am and there were further flurries throughout the day.
Birmingham householders faced mounting rubbish as refuse collections were suspended due to difficulties navigating collection trucks on suburban roads. Drivers had to battle to and from work through heavy snow on ice-covered routes where gritting operations had failed.
Long queues quickly built up and some bus services were operating on a restricted basis, with buses trying to avoid dangerous minor roads.
The AA described sections of the M5 and M6 as “hazardous”.
Birmingham International Airport was forced to close its runway, cancel seven flights and divert two in-bound flights yesterday morning though the airport remained open.
On the rails London Midland reported severe delays on their trains from Birmingham New Street to London Euston.
Commuters were warned of delays of up to 60 minutes on routes between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.
There were also delays between Birmingham and Coventry, Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street.
A severe ice warning was issued for Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire and is expected to remain in place until 11am today
