Cold snap costs millions

ARCTIC weather sweeping across the Westcountry could cost the region millions of pounds as emergency services and other authorities count their losses after the coldest December for 12 years.

Hospitals, emergency services, road maintenance and the building and tourism industries are just some of the areas feeling the impact of cold weather, exacerbated by financial uncertainty gripping the UK economy.

Emergency services have been put under extra strain as hospitals deal with an influx of patients suffering from weather-related illnesses and injuries, while the police and fire services have seen an increase in incidents as motorists run into trouble on icy roads.

Firefighters have also been called to more blazes started by chimney fires as people stoke up the heat in their homes, while local authorities are understood to be facing higher costs as they send out twice as many gritter lorries as normal.

The Met Office has revealed that the average daytime temperature was just 4.1C (39.3F) last month, the lowest on record since 1996.

Tim Jones, chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said: "It is certainly going to cost millions, it is at that level. There are some pretty big budgets which are going to be blown quickly."

The Met Office, based in Exeter, described weather conditions as "bitterly cold" and among the worst in recent memory. A spokesman said: "Recently, we have had some mild winters which have not been especially cold, so this year's weather has come as a real shock to people."

December's average daytime temperature was significantly below the month's mean temperature of 7.3C (45.1F). Night-time temperatures, meanwhile, reached as low as –3C (26.6F) in some parts of the region, compared to the month's normal average temperature of 1.9C (35.4).

The bleak weather is expected to continue, with night temperatures predicted to plummet to as low as –5C (23F) tonight and only up to 2C during the day.

Mr Jones said that despite the West missing the worst of the extreme weather hitting the UK until now, all companies in sectors which involved working outdoors faced problems, particularly construction and agriculture. But all industries would be affected by problems like icy roads and poor health that could prevent people working. They also face higher utilities because of keeping heating on at a higher level for longer.

The short-break market, which often provides a winter boost to tourism, could also be hit as people decide to stay at home instead.

It is estimated that more than half of the patients recently admitted to accident and emergency at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, were suffering from respiratory problems caused by the cold weather.

Pensioners have been warned to take extra precautions to stay warm.

Richard Best, director of operations for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The hospital has been extremely busy before and over the Christmas and New Year period. In the past month, we have seen an increase in the number of patients coming into the emergency department on a daily basis who are experiencing respiratory problems, including chest pains and breathing difficulties.

"There has also been an increase in the number of complex and very poorly patients being brought into the hospital."

Laura Mason, of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, confirmed that the recent cold weather had led to an increase in patients at its hospitals. She said: "We always plan for an increase of 20 per cent in the emergency admissions at this time of year, but what we have seen this year is closer to 30 per cent, which is an average of an extra 12 to 15 patients per day.

"Many have been admitted with chest infections and other underlying conditions which have been exacerbated by flu."

In the last couple of weeks, Devon County Council sent out road gritters 61 times – more than double the figure for last winter.

Meanwhile, Plymouth City Council sent out gritters 17 times and estimated that it used twice as much salt as the year before.

Cornwall County Council sent out gritters 29 times. Last year, it sent out only one gritter over the same period.

Cornwall County Highways advised road-users to be extremely cautious in the current weather conditions.

Peter Tatlow, Cornwall County Council's road engineer, said: "We will be heavily salting the major road network, but minor roads and lanes will generally be untreated."

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that they had been faced with an unusually high number of accidents due to the treacherous road conditions.

There were 370 reported road traffic accidents from December 26 to January 5.

A police spokesman said: "Poor weather is a major factor in road traffic collisions. Experience has shown us that difficult driving conditions such as fog, rain and especially ice and snow can put all road-users at risk.

"We would urge anybody who has to travel at this time of year to keep an eye on the weather forecast, keep their vehicles well-maintained and always allow extra time for their journey."

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services also reported a spate of chimney fires.

A spokesman said: "Chimney fires are one of the most common incidents that we attend. Many properties have lost the roof, first floor or, in some cases, been completely destroyed."

The cold snap is set to continue until the weekend when milder, windier and wetter weather may finally arrive.

Until then, parts of the UK face sleet, snow and freezing fog.

If the bitter weather continues as predicted, it would be the longest spell of cold weather since 1996.