With further snowfall across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, police and partner agencies are strongly urging motorists to avoid using the roads and stay at home.
Although conditions improved throughout the night, the north of the county is already experiencing further snowfall and more is forecast to hit the rest of the county from 9am, with further falls throughout the day.
It is anticipated that the snowfalls will be lighter than those experienced yesterday, but driving conditions are expected to remain poor.
The A3 has been closed in both directions at Hindhead by Surrey Police, as a result Hampshire police are turning around motorists at Ham Barn and sending them back south.
There is significant traffic congestion in the Hindhead area as a result. Motorists are advised they should not travel north in this area as they will not get further than Ham Barn.
If you are currently planning your journey to London, you are advised that the M3 is still passable, but take plenty of extra time and avoid the journey if at all possible.
Superintendent Barry Talbot, from Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Many drivers have been forced to abandon their cars overnight and were stranded in their vehicles for some hours.
“We have maximum resources on the roads, especially the A3 and A3M, where preservation of life has been our key priority. Some people have been stuck in their cars for many hours and hundreds of vehicles have been abandoned. This was as a result of a large number of vehicles obstructing the highway because of the heavy snow fall.
“We recognise that we can’t get to everybody as swiftly as they would want, but I can absolutely reassure the public that we have a full police operation dedicated to retrieving them and their vehicles as quickly and safely as possible.
“Furthermore, working with partners and with the assistance of the military on the A3, we have maximised use of four-wheel drive vehicles, to provide the best possible response to rescue stranded drivers and get vehicles moving again.
“If you do get stuck in your vehicle and cannot drive, stay inside the vehicle, stay warm. We will come and get you.
“Retrieval of vehicles is a complex operation which it is realistic to expect may take many days if it continues to snow.”
The A34/A303 corridor is currently experiencing heavy snowfall and motorists are advised to avoid this area.
The A3M remains a problem route this morning. The road is closed northbound and running slowly southbound, with conditions passable but poor.
On the A3, traffic is still moving slowly southbound.
Motorists who normally use the A3M and A3 are advised not to use usual alternative routes on minor roads as they may be equally as hazardous and in many cases impassable. The best course of action is to stay at home until conditions improve.
The police control room has been managing a high levels of call overnight. From 5pm yesterday to 6.30 this morning, controllers received 1,331 ‘999’ calls. On a normal night duty, it would be reasonable to expect no more than a few hundred.
Most of these related to the snow. One person died in a road traffic collision in Titchfield shortly before 7pm last night. The elderly male driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and at this stage officers believed he died as a result of a medical condition.
General Advice
Go in, stay in and tune in - regularly check the local radio and TV news and BBC websites for the latest information from the emergency services and local authorities.
If people absolutely do have to travel they should make sure they allow extra time for their journey and have with them: warm clothes and a blanket, food, water, boots, a torch, spade and a fully charged mobile phone. They should also let someone know their route and when they are expected to arrive. Before setting out, it is also important to make sure the vehicle to be driven is roadworthy: clear of snow and ice, oil and water has been checked including whether there is anti-freeze in the car and that they have enough fuel.
Roads
A3(M): Police continue to patrol this route in four wheel drive vehicles, crewed with Military and Fire Service personnel to reach people who are stuck in traffic. Those that are still waiting should be reassured that help is on the way and they will be offered the option to be evacuated to nearby prepared rest centres organised by Hampshire County Council.
The Military support includes the provision of both manpower and a number of four tonne trucks and Land Rovers which have been used to gain access to stranded motorists and to transfer them, if they wish, to one of the prepared rest centres. The Military staff have come from Southwick Park, near Portsmouth, Thorney Island and Aldershot areas.
M27: Traffic is moving but is still slow. Conditions on the A27 and many local roads remain difficult.
Abandoned vehicles
On the A3(M): Hampshire Police, in conjunction with its partners, are aiming to get this trunk road passable, and free flowing, as soon as possible. An operation is currently being planned to support motorists collecting their abandoned vehicles.
For all other roads: Motorists who had to abandon their vehicles are asked to collect them at the earliest opportunity, providing it is safe to do so.
On the non strategic routes, vehicles will be removed by the police only where they pose a danger or are causing an obstruction.
Motorists requiring police assistance to recover their vehicle should contact the police on 0845 045 4545 or 101.
Rest Centres
Providing shelter and refreshments organised by Hampshire County Council
Near the A3(M):
- Taro Leisure Centre,Petersfield
- Horndean Community School, Waterlooville
- Waterlooville Community Centre, Waterlooville
- Forest Community Centre, Bordon
For the M27 at Whiteley (Junction 9) :
- Meadowside Centre, Fareham - this operated between 11pm on Tuesday 5 January until 2am on Wednesday 6 January.
The Isle of Wight Council organised rest centres at Riverside Centre, Newport to where the police transferred 40 stranded motorists who had taken shelter in the bus station; Wotton Community Centre in Wootton and Binstead Community Centre. Additional shelter was made available by Quarr Abbey.
Hampshire County Council salting activity
45 salting lorries have carried out continuous salting runs from lunchtime yesterday and through the night. Salting lorries had snow ploughs attached to the fronts of the vehicles to clear snow prior to laying the salt. A further salting run commenced at 04:00 hours this morning. The main roads are being treated as a priority. Other roads have not been treated and will remain difficult.
The County Council also has 120 farmers mobilised to provide snow ploughing services together with other contractors who are using JCBs and other plant machinery as required to help relieve the situation. They have been out clearing the snow since early this morning.
Emergency Service Provision
All the emergency services including the Fire and Ambulance Services have been under significant pressure but have been able to maintain critical cover.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service assisted South Central Ambulance Service by providing five medically trained fire fighters utilising the services of four wheel drive Land Rovers.
Additionally, four further Fire and Rescue Land Rovers were deployed to assist Hampshire Constabulary. Their duties included escorting military vehicles used to transport stranded motorists to the rest centres. People are being advised only to contact the emergency services in the event of a genuine emergency.
