Summary

  • Travel news and breaking stories for the West of England

  1. Two airports closed in Gloucestershire and Bristol's advising travellers to check firstpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Gloucestershire AirportImage source, Google

    Gloucestershire Airport says the aerodrome has closed today and is likely to be shut on Friday.

    And Cotswold Airport has also announced it will be closed for the remainder of today and also tomorrow.

    Meanwhile, Bristol Airport is open, but it says a number of flights have been cancelled or affected by the snow and blizzards.

    Passengers are advised to contact their airline about tomorrow's flights and to carefully plan for road journeys to the airport.

    Quote Message

    We thank passengers for their understanding as we appreciate how frustrating it is to have travel plans disrupted. As the weather is a dynamically changing situation it is too soon to speculate on the flight schedule for tomorrow morning. "

    Bristol Airport

  2. Travel: Accidents across the South West as Storm Emma hitspublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    BBC Spotlight

    Devon

    • On the M5 the southbound entry slip road is closed at Junction 30 at Exeter due to snow
    • The M5 is slow moving in both directions between Exeter and Taunton
    • In Ipplepen the A381 is closed at Combefishacre Lane due to an accident
    • In Exeter, Holloway Street at the junction with Friars walk is hazardarous due to ice. Between Lympstone and Exmouth Wotton Lane is blocked in both directions due to an overturned vehicle
    • On the A3052 between Newton Poppleford and Bowd the road is blocked due to a broken down bus
    • In Okehampton, Tanner's Hill is blocked in both directions between Fowley Cross and Thorndon Cross due to an accident
    • On A30 in both directions around Okehampton is blocked due to the weather and accidents The A386 between Okehampton and Thorndon Cross blocked both directions due to an accident
    • On the A39 at Parracombe we have reports of abandoned cars blocking the road. At Blackmoor Gate the A399 is blocked in all directions by snow
    • On the A385 between Dartington and Totnes traffic is stop start. In Totnes on the A381 Western By Pass we've got reports there's slow moving traffic
    • The A381 from Kingsteignton to Teignmouth is stop start
    • On the A38 between Haldon Hill and Plymouth there's snow and ice in places with very difficult driving conditions
    • Also on the A38, we have reports that the road is blocked towards Exeter from South Brent onwards with HGV's getting stuck. The Plymouth carriage way has one lane flowing

    Cornwall

    • In Looe on Bodrigan Road we've got reports there's an accident. Near St Austell at Pentewan Sands we've got reports there's an accident
    • At Bylane End on the B3252 near the Menheniot turn off reports there's an accident

    Somerset

    • The A30 is closed in both directions between Chard and Howley due to an accident
  3. Stonehenge tunnel consultation event closed due to weatherpublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Stonehenge

    A public consultation into the proposed tunnel near the ancient monunent has had to be closed due to the weather.

    The event - which is looking into the £1.6bn upgrade of the A303 in Wiltshire - was being held in Mere this afternoon.

    The National Trust, English Heritage and Historic England have welcomed "improvements" but experts have warned the tunnel could destroy Blick Mead,an archaeological site dating back to the Ice Age.

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  4. The snow is getting heavier in Tauntonpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Here's the latest view.

    Media caption,

    Here's the view near to the M5 junction in Taunton with snow coming down fast.

  5. South West Coach services suspended due to weatherpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

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  6. Hippodrome says the show must go onpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Bristol Hippodrome says tonight's performance of Wicked will go ahead, despite severe weather warnings across the region.

    Some people have taken to social media to criticise the move, calling it irresponsible after advice was issued for people to only travel if necessary.

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  7. A40 closed after HGV 'blown off the road'published at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    The A40 has been closed between Andoversford and Northleach due to "dangerous cross winds".

    Motorists are being advised to avoid the area.

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  8. Sea swimmers brave sub-zero temperaturespublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    A group of sea swimmers is not put off by the snow and plunge into the Bristol Channel.

    Read More
  9. Got any bread?published at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

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  10. Road closed in Chard as red warning period beginspublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Police have closed the High Street at Chard, according to BBC Somerset's Charlie Taylor who is broadcasting from the edge of the red warning zone.

    The Met Office has issued a red warning for parts of Somerset and Devon from 15:00, meaning there is a potential risk to life.

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  11. Blizzard conditions expected overnight in the Westpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Media caption,

    Storm Emma: West weather forecast with Ian Fergusson

  12. Eight bells returned to church will soon ring out againpublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Church bells which have been silent for nearly a year will be ringing out again from the tower of a 700-year-old church in Suffolk soon after being repaired and restored.

    A truck with eight bells has made it all the way from Yeovil in Somerset to Ipswich through the blizzards and high winds.

    Bells arrive
    Bells on truck

    The bells were being returned to St Margaret's Church next to Christchurch Park where a restoration project costing more than £250,000 is under way.

    The eight bells will be on display to the public on Saturday before work starts to re-hang them.

    You can hear more about the restoration project on Jon Wright's Sunday breakfast programme on BBC Radio Suffolk.

  13. Snowy scenes across the Westpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Geese in the snow at SlimbridgeImage source, Slimbridge Wetland Centre
    Image caption,

    The many species are being well looked after at Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

    Children walking to school in snowy Bruton, SomersetImage source, Nicky Bassingham
    Image caption,

    Walking to school in snowy Bruton, Somerset.

    Newton St Loe snowy track
    Image caption,

    A snowy country track in Newton St Loe.

  14. If you get stuck in the snow in Malmesbury, help could be at handpublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Cotswold Balloon Safaris have volunteered a free tow service or help for vulnerable people if the snow leaves people stuck around Malmesbury.

    The balloon ride company uses a fleet of of 4x4 Land Rovers to drive its balloons and pilots around.

    But they'll (obviously) be grounded in the freak weather conditions.

    "If you need to get to a medical appointment or if an elderly person needs to get to the shops, give us a ring," a spokesman said.

    What Good Samaritan weather acts are happening where you live?

    Snow on road
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  15. Snow: Stonehenge closedpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Stonehenge

    Wiltshire's tourist attraction Stonehenge closed at 1pm today due to the snow.

    The staff who work at the visitor centre staff can not travel safely to site so they have made the decision to close.

    Visitor centre staff will monitor the weather and re-open as soon as possible.

    Quote Message

    “It is disappointing to have to close Stonehenge but our priority is the safety of our visitors and staff. Many of our staff travel in from surrounding rural areas and as the roads are likely to be badly affected, many will not be able to make it safely into work. Without adequate levels of staff we can not run the visitor operation safely. Stonehenge will be well looked after while we are closed by our onsite security team.”

    Kate Davies, English Heritage General Manger

  16. Gritters heading out ahead of Emmapublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Gritting teams from local authorities across the region have been treating the roads since first light today.

    But after a re-fuel and loading up on more grit, most are out again this lunchtime, ahead of Storm Emma.

    Blizzards and freezing rain are expected in the coming hours.

    Emergency services are all advising drivers to stay at home if at all possible.

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  17. Flint signs new deal at Bristol Citypublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    Bristol City defender Aden Flint signs a new deal which could keep him at the Championship club until 2021.

    Read More
  18. Weston NHS cancels all clinics and elective surgeriespublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

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  19. University of Bristol closedpublished at 13:40 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

    The University of Bristol have closed all buildings and campuses from 2pm and for the rest of the day.

    They say their premises will remain closed tomorrow as well and have advised students to stay at their residences and keep warm.

    Bristol suspension bridge in snow
  20. It's not all bad: people of the West enjoying the snow and icepublished at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 1 March 2018

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    James, a student in Bath, is one of many pleased that schools and colleges are closed.

    Meanwhile in Clevedon...

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