People across Fife are being urged to avoid travel once again on Friday as the Beast from the East continues to bite.
With heavy snowfall and strong winds causing drifting across the region overnight, a number of local routes are either closed or virtually impassable – with Police Scotland urging against anything but absolutely necessary journeys.
An amber warning is still in place for Fife until at least 10am and ScotRail has confirmed that services through Fife remain withdrawn for the time being, while there are still no Stagecoach bus services in the Kingdom at present.
It will review its decision at 10am.
Here's a few photos of our buses looking sad in depots in Fife this morning, unable to go anywhere! You wouldn't know that these yards were cleared yesterday! pic.twitter.com/Nns7xaVHlD
— Stagecoach East Scot (@StagecoachEScot) March 2, 2018
I can't imagine any trains passing by today This is the railway line beside Garvock Hill #Dunfermline @fifetourism @Travel_Scotrail pic.twitter.com/OFI0Ayuabz
— Vine Conference (@vineconference) March 2, 2018
All Fife schools and Fife College campuses are closed again today, giving thousands of pupils another snow day, Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy Crematoria are both closed and scheduled burials will not take place today.
Bin collections have also been cancelled for the rest of the week as it is deemed too dangerous for staff to go out, while recycling centres across the region will remain shut until at least 11am on Saturday.
ON at Fife theatres, museums and libraries are largely open until 3pm on Friday, although it is best to check before you travel.
All outpatient appointments for NHS Fife hospitals have also been cancelled.
But the main problem this morning is the roads.
The M90 southbound was restricted in both lanes at junction 2a shortly after 6am following an accident and there have been a number of incidents since, while bumps and shunts are still being reported in all areas.
⚠️ #M90 southbound J2a gritters working hard to clear the drifts
AMBER ⚠️ ❣️ THINK – is your journey REALLY necessary? pic.twitter.com/3UHJnmA4Ov— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) March 2, 2018
In central Fife, various narrow sections of the A921 Kirkcaldy to Burntisland and the B9157 Invertiel Road between Inverteil Farm and Kirkcaldy were said to be passable with care.
The A92 was also partially blocked for a time southbound between Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy due to an accident.
However, the B925 Auchtertool to Mossmorran Roundabout, the B930 Percival Road, Buckhaven between Buckhaven and the A915 Standing Stane Road, the C32 Star of Markinch to Kennoway road, the C33 Glenrothes Airport to Auchmuir Bridge road and the C50 Auchmuir Bridge Road are all closed due to drifting snow.
In the west, a number of routes are also affected. The A985 between Crombie and Cairneyhill was restricted in both directions shortly after 8am due to an accident, although the only official road closure is the A907 Dunfermline to Gartary Roundabout at Kincardine – with various spots along the length of the road blocked by snow drifts.
The same is true in the north and east of the region, with many, many roads treacherous.
The A915 Largoward to Upper Largo between Lathallan and Upper Largo is completely shut, as is the B9131 Anstruther to St Andrews road due to drifting snow.
Calling all the early risers this morning.
Thinking about getting in your vehicle ? Stop !
Advice from @policescotland is to AVOID travelling on the roads
Here's our wee vid below with some advice #heretohelp pic.twitter.com/QQTgzVcrei
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) March 2, 2018
Fife Council priority continues to be ploughing snow routes, primary and secondary routes, with 24 gritters and ploughs on the roads, 18 JCBs and 39 tractors all clearing snow in the past 24 hours.
Fife Council’s chief executive Steve Grimmond said: “Conditions continue to be challenging for everyone. I’d like to say well done and thank you to all the staff who are putting in huge effort to combat the snow and help those in most need.
“I’d also like to thank all the members of the public who have been offering help and resources.
“There’s great community spirit across Fife. We can’t always take up such offers of help for practical or legal reasons – particularly when we’re delivering services to vulnerable clients – but I’d urge everyone to check on friends, relatives and neighbours where you can. Everyone can play their part in their own street and neighbourhood.
“We’ll keep clearing snow and gritting priority routes but, with wind and snow undoing some of the hard work, it will take some time for conditions on the roads to improve and delay us moving in to clear residential areas.”
Meals on wheels managed to deliver to most clients yesterday and services are in touch with people that the team were unable to reach.
Fife Sports and Leisure Trust operated leisure centres are also closed today with staff safety in mind.
Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is informing customers that all of its facilities across Fife will close today due to current weather conditions.
Customers can find further information on the trust’s website and social media.
This is the Michael Woods Centre in Glenrothes. pic.twitter.com/DBZIciujps— Craig Smith (@C_CSmith1) March 2, 2018
With conditions still treacherous in and around Anstruther, lifeboat volunteers with the RNLI will offer their services today between 11am and 2pm collecting and delivering prescriptions to those unable to make it to the pharmacy.
Police Scotland officers have similarly been out and about in the community.
#WeatherHeroes – @FifePolice officers could not make it to their normal place of work today. Instead they worked in the local community helping deliver prescriptions, clear snow from the local High Street & being on hand for anyone needing some help. #Snow #Communities #Proud pic.twitter.com/n0cYyH9Bun
— Fife Police (@FifePolice) March 1, 2018
NHS Fife also said it had been “inundated” with offers from people with 4×4 vehicles willing to help staff get to work. A number of doctors, nurses and other staff have been staying overnight either at their place of work or in other nearby accommodation.