Crawley weathers the first snow of 2013
jpco-23/1/13 No fun in the Snow on A264 east bound (Pic by Jon Rigby)
Despite waking up to a normal, gloomy morning, the people of Crawley soon found themselves in the middle of a rather chilly snowstorm.
One by one, the town’s schools announced that they would either not open at all or would close at lunchtime, leaving parents who had made their way into work with the headache of getting home again.
Luckily, transport was not too badly affected early in the day, although the railways decided to play safe from the beginning with trains running on a temporary schedule.
While the town’s roads and the A23 initially remained relatively clear, as the day wore on traffic slowed to a crawl with queues leading off from Pease Pottage.
Sussex Police warned motorists not to drive unless strictly necessary.
Metrobus and Gatwick airport made valiant attempts to run normal services but, as the snow worsened, the airport announced delays of up to two-and-a-half hours while Metrobus suspended several services across town.
The wintry weather may have been no fun for motorists but it was playtime for children who headed up to Tilgate Park in their droves to get in the first snowball fight of the year.
And at least one local business had a profitable day, with Tilgate Bakery, on Tilgate Parade, selling out of bread.
Crawley Borough Council was forced to suspend refuse and recycling collections in Pound Hill, Worth and Maidenbower.
And the weather meant the first test for Snow Force - a network of volunteers armed with salt and shovels who are tasked with helping to keep their neighbourhood footpaths clear.
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Weather for Crawley
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
