With another layer of fresh snow on the ground, and still more snow forecast for tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon and evening, any information on the current state of the roads would be very gratefully received. Our site stats tell us that the number of visits to PARWICH.ORG has increased almost threefold over the past few days, which suggests that a lot of you must be looking for this sort of information – so please do share what you know.
Travelling into Parwich from Nottingham this lunchtime – via Derby, Allestree, Kedleston, Hulland Ward, Carsington Water and Bradbourne – we experienced no particular difficulties until we joined the lane from Knockerdown to Bradbourne. Although the lane has been regularly gritted and is in a reasonable state for traffic, special care and attention is needed over this stretch. (There’s one benefit, though: by slowing right down, you’ll get a chance to take in the spectacularly beautiful scenery on either side of the lane.)
Care is also needed on the Hognaston bypass (which runs along the edge of Carsington Water). This was badly affected during Friday evening’s snowfall, with traffic unable to progress at much more than 5mph. The road is a lot better today, but it’s still far from being hazard-free.
Our one potential “sticky moment” came on the approach road to Parwich, north of the Ballidon turn-off but south of the Pikehall turn-off. There’s a difficult and dangerous stretch on this road, for maybe 150 metres or so around a particular bend, where the amount of slush and ice deepens dramatically. If your car has a low suspension, or if it doesn’t handle snow too well in general, then you are strongly advised to avoid taking this route.
We’ve heard that the Alsop road is in a better state than the southbound road to the B5056, as it is being gritted – but do watch out for those potholes, which are steadily getting worse.
Finally, if you’re unable to get up some of the steeper lanes within the village, then we recommend the Parsons Croft car park (by the cricket pitch), which offers a safer space to leave your vehicle.
PARWICH.ORG 
Alan from Gardeners Cottage was kind enough to take me in his Landrover to Ashbourne this afternoon so that I could get some nappies for the brood (actually turned into a big shop as it does) so many many thanks for that.
Anyway the Alsop road is quite reasonable at the moment with just one area just up from Rob and Emmas place that has a high central ice ridge that could catch low slung exhausts and undertrays.
A515 to Ashbourne has no problems.
Matt H
The County Council have updated the information about gritting on their website (see http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/news_events/news/road_gritting.asp ). It looks like we will have to check again on Monday to find out what gritting will occur in the week with Central Government now coordinating salt supplies nationally:
The Ashbourne Adult Education Centre can be contacted on tel. 345613
Just done a round trip to Buxton (5:45pm Saturday). Alsop road is fine (except the ice ridge mentioned by Matt above) but the A515 to Buxton is getting close to closing. The snow is being blown across the road into drifts at various points along especially at Parsley Hay and Flagg. Ploughs and gritters are trying to keep it open, but its getting very difficult.
We came back from Ashbourne earlier and in one place near the top turning for Tissington A515 it is drifting and i can imagine it is much worse towards Buxton
To whoever corrected my pre-school spelling – thank you!!
Hi all,
Went into Homebase (sorry David Neil’s!) today to try and buy some grit. Of course, they didn’t have any. However, they’ve told me the next best thing is cat litter! I’ve tried it out and it really is good. (Apparently, sales of cat littler is up 30 percent!)
Debs
I’m supposed to be working in Bakewell Mon p.m. Usually I go up A515 then turn right thru Monyash. Graham, D’you think I’d make it in my Micra? Or is it daft to try?
Tricky one Sue – it’s usually much better in the afternoon, and it really depends on the prevailing conditions but you do have the advantage of a front wheel drive car. The alternative to your route is to go over Longcliffe, down Via Gelia and along the A6 which is a bit of a long way round.
We were on our way to Longnor this morning, and there are now several places where the snow is drifting across the A515 to Buxton (not just Hartington).
There was a road closed sign up near Newhaven, and again further up near the Jug and Glass although looking at the road status the road is still open. There was a lorry stuck on the hill past Parsley Hay, so we decided to turn around, as there was already enough snow building up on the road to cause us concerns – and it wasn’t worth taking any risks.
The winds are fairly strong on the tops, so if you have to drive that way I’d take care. It may be that the road is closed shortly.
Thank you to Don H for this info
Road from Cromford to Parwich, via Longcliffe was passable with care at 4.15pm Sunday, however the snow was starting to stick. From the B5056 to the village was clear, thank you to those that have cleared that large ridge of ice on the corner that was making it difficult for cars to manoeuvre around.
This was in a non 4WD vehicle
The A515 is on the BBC rolling satellite news tonight. Very, very scary.
Don’t think I’m gonna attempt Buxton too early tomorrow.
A515 closed south from Buxton at 19:30 this evening (Sunday) (just by that bookshop). Horrible long journey round via A6 and Matlock with snow drifting over many of the roads. Newhaven to Alsop turn very difficult and narrow for our 2wd.
The A515 south of Buxton has just been featured on BBC1’s 10:30pm national news bulletin (somewhere around Monyash, at a guess). Conditions up there looked terrible, although the report did finish with footage of a snow plough (and an interview with its driver, who had just been hauled out of the pub!)
I’ve just heard the Alsop hasn’t been gritted with the result that the school bus hasn’t got through. I was supposed to take Allie to a hospital appointment this morning, which I now won’t be able to get to. Then I got thinking, if the school bus can’t get through, what about an ambulance or fire engine? What is the Council’s ‘duty of care’ to grit the Alsop Road every day if the conditions require it?
According to the BBC News site, the A515 is closed today between the A5270 (Brierlow Bar) and B5035 (King Street) in Buxton. There are also significant problems on the A615.
I saw this page on BBC Derby. Seems to be reasonably current on local road conditions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/local/derby.shtml