Summary

  • Updates from Monday 26 February until Friday 2 March 2018

Live Reporting

  1. GWR shuttles running, but still avoid travel

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    DawlishIain McDonald

    Following the cancellation of all train services on the main line through Dawlish earlier, it has been announced that a limited shuttle service is running "as and when" possible, GWR has said.

    The company's advice to passengers is still to avoid travel however, "as there is no guarantee services will operate".

    Poor weather conditions after Storm Emma led to flooding of the Dawlish line after waves breached the sea wall.

    The breach meant no trains could travel from Cornwall and the rest of Devon out of the South West and vice versa.

    Updates will be posted on the GWR website and on their Twitter page.

  2. Sand, rocks and debris on Cornish road

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  3. Rail travel updates

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  4. 'No photo is worth a serious injury or death'

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    BeesandsKingsbridge Police

    Following their warnings against travelling near Beesands, in South Devon, where a minor rescue operation has been under way, Kingsbridge Police are warning people to stay clear of the coast altogether.

    In a post on their Facebook page, the officers said "conditions at the coast are horrendous. The winds are storm force 11 with an average wind speed of 66mph and gusts of over 80mph. The waves are massive and dangerous throwing shingle and debris onto the road.

    "Although it's a pretty spectacular sight at the coast, it is extremely dangerous. Please stay away. No photo is worth a serious injury or death."

    Already one lane of the A379 between Torcross and Strete Gate has been washed away and is now impassable.

    "All of the emergency services are stretched and don't need the added pressure during this very busy time."

    Emergency services are advising against travel unless completely necessary.

  5. People stuck on Bodmin Moor for over eight hours

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    snowy roadDevon & Cornwall police

    Three people have been rescued from Bodmin Moor after spending eight-and-a-half hours stranded in their vehicle.

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  6. Beach camera shows height of waves at Dawlish

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    Images captured by Dawlish Beach Cams show the height of waves breaching the sea wall at Dawlish.

    Train services have been suspended due to "significant damage" on the line as a result of flooding and debris.

    dawlish wavesDAWLISH BEACH CAMS
    waves at DawlishDAWLISH BEACH CAMS

  7. M5 and M4 open with restrictions

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    Highways England have tweeted to announce that the M5 and M4 are both now open with restrictions in place.

    Highways England tweetTwitter

  8. All 279 schools in Cornwall are closed

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    Cornwall council logoCornwall Council

    All 279 schools in Cornwall will be closed for the duration of today, Cornwall Council has said.

    In a statement explaining the impact of the weather on their services, the Council also laid out plans to run the Cornwall Housing desk on an emergency basis to deal with homelessness and emergency repairs.

    The Council also warns that although the Truro Park and Ride service is running, "members of the public can only park and use the Langarth site which will service both ends of the town".

    All waste collections in the east of Cornwall have been suspended, with collections in the rest of the county operating as usual.

    The advice from police this morning is not to travel unless you have to.

    Despite gritters treating roads yesterday, many routes are still treacherous and in some cases, blocked by fallen trees or abandoned cars.

  9. Discarded buses and chains in Dartmouth

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    With hills frozen and many roads impassable, vehicles have been abandoned across the region.

    Not many of them are quite the size of this double-decker bus left in a street in Dartmouth though.

    Bus

    Snow chains were also left discarded in the street.

    Snow chains

  10. 'Internal critical incident' declared at Exeter hospital

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    NHS

    The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has declared an internal critical incident, and is asking staff within walking distance go into work.

    Speaking to Radio Devon this morning, one of those trudging into the hospital to help this morning explained what was happening: "We work in A&E and we all got stuck yesterday at work.

    "Obviously we weren't going to abandon patients so we stayed, and the hospital kindly put us up in a hotel in the centre of Exeter, but obviously we had to walk there late last night and now we're walking back to start again this morning."

    Earlier this morning, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust requested people avoid their A&E, saying that it was "super busy".

  11. Cornwall travel: Broken-down vehicles block roads

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    • On the A30 Bodmin there's a broken-down lorry at Carminow Cross awaiting recovery
    • The road from Helston to Culdrose is very slow moving, with tractors trying to clear the snow away
    • On Church Street in Helston, most ice is gone now but three abandoned cars are still blocking the road outside the church
    • In Redruth A393 Sandy Lane is partially blocked due to a collision involving motorbike around St Day Road
    • Between Chacewater and the Penstraze cut-through near the railway bridge the road is blocked by a fallen tree
    • The level crossing at Poniou Lane in Long Rock is stuck down
    • At Newquay Airport flights to and from Dublin are cancelled. Skybus flights to and from the Isles of Scilly are grounded due to the weather
    • Train passengers should check with their rail company throughout the day before travelling
    • Traffic's moving well on the Tamar Bridge and there's a 10-minute wait with three ferries running at Torpoint

    If you have any travel updates please call 01872 22 22 22.

  12. Devon travel: Poor conditions on most roads

    BBC Radio Devon

    • The A379 at Torcross along the Slapton line has been taken out by the sea. One lane is gone
    • The A303 in the Blackdown Hills is still closed both directions between the A30 and the A358 near Marsh due to a serious collision. Drivers should use the A358 north west bound and then join the M5 at Junction 25
    • The A38 Haldon Hill is open between Kennford and Chudleigh but conditions remain very poor
    • On the A38 at Marley Head stationery traffic an drivers are stuck in their vehicles
    • The A30 around Sourton remains blocked
    • In North Devon on the A361 near Barnstaple the road is clear and traffic is coping
    • The A380 Telegraph Hill is still closed between the Splatford Split and Kingsteignton Near Ilfracombe the A361 is blocked around the Mullacott Cross Roundabout
    • On the A379 between Shaldon and Teignmouth is open but conditions are poor
    • On the A385 between Paignton and Totnes we have reports of two abandoned articulated lorries blocking the road
    • On the trains all services in and out of Devon are subject to delay and cancellation due to the weather - check with your train operator for more information
    • Exeter Airport is closed for all flights - they apologise for technical problems with the website
    • Traffic is moving well on the Tamar Bridge but there are very strong gusty winds so drive with care - There's around a 10-minute wait with three ferries currently running between Torpoint and Devonport.

    If you have any updates on the latest driving conditions please call us on 0345 300 2829

  13. Police urge caution, saying 'we can't fly!'

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    Police forced to walk to work in the icy conditions have tweeted asking people to "assess your need" before calling as emergency services are stretched in the wake of Storm Emma.

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  14. Tiverton Urgent Care centre 'open as usual'

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    Staff of the Tiverton Urgent Care centre walked into work in the icy conditions to ensure the centre could remain open today.

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  15. Eden Project remains closed

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    The Eden Project remains closed today due to safety reasons after yesterday's snowfall.

    It is planning to reopen tomorrow.

  16. Flooding in Porthallow 'absolutely horrendous'

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    As yesterday's snow begins to melt and combines with high tides, some areas of Cornwall are experiencing flooding.

    Worst hit so far is Porthallow, where five properties have been affected by water which is 3ft (0.9m) deep in places.

    Dave Lambrick, the landlord of the Five Pilchards pub in Porthallow said flooding was "absolutely horrendous".

    It is reported that two tonne timbers have shifted around, and fishing boats have been moved.

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  17. Travel: Weather continues to cause closures

    BBC Radio Devon

    • In Plymouth commercial Road is closed outbound at Teats Hill Road Due to temporary traffic light failure. All outbound traffic will be diverted through Barbican approach and Gashouse Lane until the lights can be repaired.
    • In Bideford on the A39 there is slow traffic and it is partially blocked due to an accident around the B3236 Buckleigh Road.
    • The A303 in the Blackdown Hills is still closed both directions between the A30 and the A358 near Marsh due to a serious collision.
    • The A379 at Torcross along the Slapton line has been taken out by the sea, with one lane gone.
    • The M5 is open but driving conditions are poor and made worse by very strong gusty winds.
    • The A380 Telegraph Hill is still closed between the Splatford Split and Kingsteignton.
    • The A38 Haldon Hill is open between Kennford and Chudleigh but conditions remain very poor
    • On the A385 between Paignton and Totnes we have reports of two abandoned articulated lorries blocking the road.
    • On the A361 near Barnstaple one lane is open but lorry spray turning to ice is causing big problems.
    • The A30 around Sourton remains blocked.
    • On the trains there's disruption to most services. Great Western Railway is advising customers not to travel on many of its routes
    • There are no CrossCountry trains or GWR trains travelling through Dawlish due to storm damage.

  18. Dawlish sea wall waves worst 'since 2014'

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    Waves that are breaching the sea wall at Dawlish and flooding the rail line are the "worst since 2014", according to one local resident.

    Iain McDonald's house overlooks the track in Dawlish and he says his house has been "shuddering".

    "A section of the platform is missing, I don't know where it's gone. You can't see the track - it's under water.

    "I don't think we've had waves like this since 2014 and my house has been shuddering as the waves hit the sea wall. We're quite away above the track and waves have been hitting our first floor window."

    All train services are currently suspended through Dawlish.

    waves at dawlishIain McDonald

    A section of the fence alongside the Dawlish track is missing

  19. Rescue operation under way at Beesands

    Sarah Gosling
    BBC News Online

    BeesandsKingsbridge Police

    Stranded elderly residents are the focus of a rescue operation under way in Beesands, Devon.

    Coastguards, fire and police have been deployed to Beesands, between Torcross and Hallsands after sea conditions became "very dangerous".

    Agencies are moving elderly people from homes at the coastal settlement.

    In a post on their Facebook page, Kingsbridge Police asked the public to "stay away", noting that "serious sea conditions at Beesands and Torcross" were "very dangerous".

    BeesandsKingsbridge Police