Snowfall Causes School Closures and Travel Disruptions

Widespread snowfall has resulted in the closure of multiple schools in Dorset, alongside disruptions to road networks and bus services. Among the educational institutions that ceased operations are Charmouth Primary School in Charmouth, Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester, and Sir John Colfox Academy in Bridport. Dorset Police reported numerous routes as impassable, with vehicles becoming stranded on thoroughfares such as the A35, particularly while ascending hills in the Winterborne Abbas area. The police force issued an appeal to drivers, advising them to “please only make essential journeys and if you need to go out.” Greenford CE Primary School in Dorchester announced its closure for the day via its website, citing the decision was made “due to the rapid change in weather conditions.” The institution further explained that its personnel were unable to commute to the school safely. Conversely, The Prince of Wales School, located on Maiden Castle Road in Dorchester, managed to maintain operations despite the snowy conditions, as a significant number of its staff members were able to reach the premises on foot. Headteacher Gary Spracklen stated that the school intended to transform the snowy day into an “exciting learning opportunity, with a curriculum tailored to embrace the unique conditions.” Bus operator First Dorset confirmed the cancellation of several of its school services, attributing this to both existing snowfall and additional snow predicted. A statement from the bus company indicated: “Buses are turning around and returning students to their homes as there will be no service tonight.” Morebus, which operates public transport services across Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Blandford, Wimborne, and Swanage, announced it was compelled to suspend services “until the roads become driveable again.” The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for ice and snow. This advisory is effective for the south and south west England, remaining in effect until 15:00 GMT. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.