With the snow finally stopping, council services are continuing to get back to normal following last week’s adverse weather.
Almost all of the roads closed due to the snow have now been re-opened, with only the C28 Westgate to Newbiggin closed and the C77 Rookhope to Ireshopeburn and the C78 Rookhope to Westgate both passable with care.
Although the 24 hour winter maintenance treatment is now coming to an end, ploughing is continuing on priority one and two networks in the High and Low Pennines and resource has also been allocated to other routes where needed.
The majority of schools across the county have welcomed back pupils this morning, with parents and staff from Red Rose Primary School in Chester-le-Street showing their community spirit by clearing streets and paths around the site to make sure children could get in safely.
Sue Bainbridge, the school’s headteacher, said: “Early on Saturday I was able to access the school and found that the whole area was covered in very thick snow and I soon realised that one caretaker wouldn’t be able to clear a site of this size.
“The governors and I decided we would send out a message to do a snow clearing workshop with parents, governors and grandparents and on Sunday morning between 12pm and 2pm we had about 50 volunteers who came with their shovels to clear the snow outside the school.
“One of our former pupils even arrived with his tractor which was amazing and cleared the entire yard, so now we are just about snow clear and were able to open this morning.”
Two schools have remained closed due to a lack of power.
Residents are being advised that if their bin wasn’t collected on the usual day last week it should be put out as normal on their next collection date for that waste type – check your collection calendar at www.durham.gov.uk/mydurham.
Any extra waste that has accumulated will also be taken as part of that collection.
The council’s building and facilities maintenance team has also been working hard to deal with a number of burst pipes and roof leaks that occurred during last week and making sure buildings are fit for use.