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Heavy snowfalls across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay on Friday morning

Traffic moves cautiously on the Thanet Way between South Street and Foxgrove Road on Friday morning. Picture: Chris Davey
Traffic moves cautiously on the Thanet Way between South Street and Foxgrove Road on Friday morning. Picture: Chris Davey

Traffic moves cautiously on the Thanet Way between South Street and Foxgrove Road, Whitstable on Friday morning. Picture: Chris Davey

Heavy morning snowfalls across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay made journeys into work virtually impossible on Friday morning.

Cars were abandoned, buses stranded and roads almost impassable as snow fell on ice.

Click here to see the latest road information.

Gazette and Faversham News reporter Adam Williams was forced to abandon his car at the bottom of Clapham Hill on the A290 between Canterbury and Whitstable during his journey into work.

Speaking to kmfm breakfast presenter Neil Redding, he said: "A bus has got stuck at the top of the hill and that's just left cars behind it completely stuck.

"I've decided to give up driving to Whitstable and walk the rest of the way. Other drivers are starting to do the same.

"I passed three buses on my way from Canterbury that just couldn't make it uphill, it really is treacherous out here.

"Unless you're driving a 4x4 or a tractor, there's absolutely no chance of getting uphill."

Gazette reporter Adam Williams finally makes it to work after Friday's morning's heavy snow forced him to abandon his car between Canterbury and Whitstable.
Gazette reporter Adam Williams finally makes it to work after Friday's morning's heavy snow forced him to abandon his car between Canterbury and Whitstable.

Adam (pictured left) eventually made it into the Gazette's office in Estuary View Business Park, Whitstable at 9.30am, having left home in Canterbury at 7.45am.

Honey Hill and St Thomas' Hill on the A290 between Canterbury and Whitstable were also badly affected with cars and buses stranded.

Two jacknifed lorries near the Gate Services on the London bound A2 at Harbledown meant delays of up to 90 minutes for motorists between the A28 Thanington Road and Brenley Corner with the M2 and A299 Thanet Way.

The road was closed in both directions throughout the morning to allow emergency services to clear the accident.

In Faversham, Arriva Buses were forced to cancel and reroute a number of services.

Service 333 is running between Faversham town centre, Sittinbourne and Danaway only. It is unable to serve Oare or Maidstone.

Canterbury city council sign stock
Canterbury city council sign stock

Canterbury City Council cancelled waste collections again on Friday.

From next week, Serco will concentrate on landfill waste only.

They will collect landfill waste as per the calendar plus any properties that did not receive a landfill waste collection this week.

The following week, landfill waste will be collected as per the calendar and all properties will receive a clear recycling sack collection.

School were also forced to close once again on Friday, giving pupils and staff another day off.

See a full list of those closed here or report a closure.

On the trains, Southeastern were running an adjusted timetable again on Friday.

The emergency timetable is in force but there are no trains at all between the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne, and Bromley North and Grove Park. Further afield, First Capital Connect has cancelled all trains between Blackfriars and Herne Hill.

High Speed services are running to timetable but mainline services are on the emergency schedule.

All tickets are valid on the High Speed while the snow continues.

Mainline services from Ashford to London Charing Cross depart at 23 and 53 minutes past the hour and call at at Pluckley, Headcorn, Staplehurst, Marden, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Hildenborough, Sevenoaks, London Bridge and Waterloo East. The last service to London will be at 7.23pm.

The return trains leave at 15 and 45 mins past the hour until 3pm when more are scheduled. The last service will be 9.15pm.

Services to Ashford from South Kent run through the day at 44 mins past the hour from Dover Priory and 22 mins past the hour from Ramsgate via Deal.

Canterbury West gets two trains an hour to Ashford and Canterbury East gets one an hour to Faversham, and forward to London with a change.

Faversham gets four trains an hour, two of which terminate at Rochester. They leave from Faversham at 41 and 11 minutess past the hour through the day calling at all stations to Victoria. Services leave at 58 and 28 minutes past the hour through the day ending at Rochester.

Last services are as follows:

  • To Ashford, 9.15pm from Charing Cross;
  • Faversham, 9.22pm from Victoria;
  • Maidstone East, 9.07pm from Victoria;
  • Canterbury East, 8pm from Faversham - meaning passengers for Canterbury East will need to leave London very early.
  • To Whistable, Herne Bay and onwards toRamsgate via Broadstairs8.30pm fromFaversham
  • To Canterbury West and intermediate stations from Ashford 9.42pm, Canterbury West only, 11.22pm.
  • To Folkestone, Dover and stations to Ramsgate from Ashford at 9.12pm and to Dover only at 11.52pm.
  • Dartford from Charing Cross 8.32pm and from Cannon Street at 7.47pm.

Kent Police issued the following advisory to motorists at 11.30am on Friday:

  • M2 Brenley Corner/A299 - heavy snow, please avoid
  • M2 Londonbound between junctions 5-6 – one lane open
  • M2 Junction 2 – whiteout with very little visibility
  • M2 junction 3-4 – outside lane is closed
  • M20 – very heavy snow. Junction 8-9 one lane is closed
  • Eurostar – cancellations of some services. Please check before travelling
  • A2 – heavy snow in Canterbury area. The slip road at Dunkirk is now open
  • A2 Boughton Hill, Boughton under Blean is impassable due to snow
  • A282 onto A2 flyover – a jack-knifed lorry is blocking two lanes
  • A229 Bluebell Hill – snowing heavily but passable
  • Sheppey Crossing – heavy snow and poor visibility but passable.
  • Bluewater – Main flyover is closed but roads are gritted and entrances to site are clear and vehicles are moving in and out
  • A299 Thanet Way is now open

Police are advising people to drive only if absolutely necessary. If you do need to drive, extreme caution is required.

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