Bad weather sees 'carnage' on roads

HIGH WINDS AND SNOW have caused "carnage" on some Scottish roads, according to police.

Warnings of high winds and snow are in place throughout much of Scotland.

The southern tip of Dumfries and Galloway is predicted to suffer from the same severe low pressure system that is causing major problems south of the border, although weather warnings are less severe throughout the rest of Scotland.

The worst disruption in Scotland appears to be on higher ground, including an accident in the Highlands involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and a van, which left one man trapped.

Fire and rescue crews had to cut the van driver free after his vehicle collided with an HGV on the A9 at Drumochter Pass at around 2.20pm.

The drivers were taken to hospital but their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

There was also disruption on the A82 at Ballachulish with a jack-knifed lorry and several other minor road traffic collisions, which did not result in any injuries.

Road users have been advised to use caution crossing the A9 Dornoch Bridge due to high winds, and the snow gates were closed at Cock Bridge in Aberdeenshire.

There has also been "carnage" on the roads in the Tayside area, according to a Police Scotland spokesman who has advised drivers to avoid the area.

Two HGVs collided, blocking both carriageways around five miles south of the House of Bruar on the A9 southbound.

No-one was injured.

A Mercedes C20 car carrying four adults also slid off the road in the same area.

At 2.30pm, a lorry broke down on the A9 at Pitlochry with a punctured tyre.

The snow gates were closed in both directions at Calvine, in Pitlochry.

Elsewhere, the M74 southbound was closed at the Happendon Services, South Lanarkshire, following an accident at around 5.40pm.

Scotland's railways have escaped the disruption that has affected lines in England, although Network Rail has advised cross-border travellers that the West Coast Mainline will closed between Preston and Penrith between 7pm and 9pm due to forecast high winds.

First Minister Alex Salmond chaired a Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) meeting this afternoon to assess preparedness across Scotland for the potential impacts of the forecast weather conditions.

The meeting, which involved the Met Office, Sepa, Transport Scotland and responder organisations, heard there would be an amber warning for southern parts of Dumfries and Galloway, three distinct Yellow weather warnings in Scotland overnight and into tomorrow morning, with the Red warning being restricted to south of the border.

Transport minister Keith Bron said: "The Amber alert for high winds in south-west Scotland this evening and the Yellow warnings that we have in place for snow and wind are to a certain extent reflective of normal winter conditions, but these still have the potential to bring some disruption to travellers in the affected areas.

"Road operators, train companies and those involved with ferries and aviation will plan ahead in the usual way and put in measures to mitigate any impacts, but given the conditions expected north and south of the border there are likely to be some impacts to cross-border travel, particularly on the West Coast Mainline, higher level routes and ferries on the west coast.

"High winds could also restrict road bridges overnight.

"Travellers should follow the tried and tested practice of checking all available advice before they set out on their journeys."

Environment and climate change minister Paul Wheelhouse added: "While the forecast does not anticipate the extreme severe weather forecast for Wales and the north-west of England to come as far north as Scotland, we cannot take it for granted that there will be no impact and therefore it is important that we are ready to react.

"We heard today that all our key stakeholders remain in a high state of readiness to deal with issues as the arise, and to respond quickly to any sudden change in conditions.

"They will continue to monitor the situation closely."

With further bad weather being forecast for the weekend, SGoRR is monitoring the developing situation and will meet again ahead of the weekend to update on the situation.

By Mark McLaughlin, Press Association