Locals make the most of
the winter weather

East Kent is bracing itself for more snow
while still recovering from last week's heavy falls.

In Dover up to six inches of snow fell
last Wednesday night, February 10, and the next day most

schools in the area were closed. Snow
drifts brought traffic to a standstill on the district's
roads.

The first phase of Operation Stack was brought into use on
Thursday afternoon because of the heavy volume of traffic queuing
to use the ferries and Channel Tunnel. Stack was lifted again on
Friday morning.

Waste and recycling collections were
cancelled and the district
council's planning committee meeting scheduled for
Thursday evening February
11 was postponed.

Coastguard officers used a 4x4 vehicle to
help an ambulance crew who had become stuck.

Queues built up on the A2 between Barham
and Whitfield and on the A20 between Dover and Folkestone.
Snow ploughs and gritters have been in operation throughout
the district.

Whitfield Hill was particularly badly hit, with accidents
on both Wednesday evening, when the heavy snow started
falling, and Thursday morning.

The A20 coastbound at Capel had snow drifts and a car
became stuck in a drift at Whitfield.

Motorists found Crabble Road into River treacherous on Wednesday
evening, and a bus was in danger of sliding into parked cars at one
stage. The driver managed to park the bus, and terminated the
journey.

Thick blankets of snow caused problems in the villages.

Sanjai Patel of the Bickers Newsagents
in Eastry said: "It's quite heavy in Eastry. The roads are
really bad and no one is going out.

"They're not panic buying, but people
are buying more food than normal and I've run out of milk."

South Kent police press officer Rosy
Alexander said: "Three to four feet of snow have been reported at
Shepherdswell, and Northbourne has been badly affected."

More snow is forecast for Tuesday
and Wednesday, February 16 and 17.