Last updated: 18:40. People returning to Parwich have so far reported no particular problems. Within Parwich itself, the sleet turned into rain this afternoon, before stopping. The temperature has settled at around zero, and the two main roads into the village are basically OK, even though they haven’t been gritted. Conditions on most roads in our immediate vicinity are slushy, slippery and wet, although the less used thoroughfares are becoming more glassy and hazardous as night falls.
A nasty ice ridge has developed on the Alsop road, not far from Emma and Rob’s on the edge of Parwich. Matt H felt plenty of scraping under his car this evening, and thought that it could easily damage some.
As no more sleet or snow is forecast until tomorrow afternoon, we can reasonably expect that tomorrow morning’s driving conditions will be a little bit better than today’s.
As from 15:24, the A515 south of Buxton has been reported as re-opened.
The Alsop road wasn’t gritted last night, which left it initially passable to 4X4s only. Jean C had to turn back earlier on, and Debbie W told us that the school bus couldn’t make it through – raising worrying questions as to how the emergency services might reach us.
However, according to Brian B at around 12:45 (in a 4WD), the Alsop road was much improved and “very clear”. Peter T confirmed that the road has improved, although the growing number of potholes is problematic and the final ascent to the A515 is still nasty; Brian F in his front wheel drive made it only on the third attempt. And once again, do beware of that ice ridge near Emma and Rob’s. So if you’re taking the Alsop road out of the village, the verdict seems to be: fine for 4WDs, probably manageable but still best avoided for 2WDs.
We don’t yet know whether the Alsop road will be gritted. A request has been made to the County Council, but no one was able to confirm or deny whether this will actually happen. If you see a gritter, please let us know!
As far as we know, the A515 was closed today in at least three places: northwards only from the market place in Ashbourne, at the Longnor/Monyash junction (B5055), and in both directions between the A5270 (Brierlow Bar) and B5035 (King Street) in Buxton. It was also flagged as “hazardous” around the Hartington area. However, the stretch between the top of the Alsop Road and the Via Gellia turn-off at Newhaven has remained open and usable throughout, and the southbound stretch of the A515 from the Alsop road to Ashbourne is “fine with care”. We think the A515 has now been fully re-opened in both directions.
The road through Monyash was reported this morning as “very bad”.
QEGS in Ashbourne closed at 11:45am this morning.
Conditions around Bradbourne have been described as slippy and treacherous, with cars this morning struggling in queues to get up and down the hill next to Netherton Hall. However, cars have been making it to Parwich from Bradbourne, with the gradient of the road working in their favour. The TM Travel 411 bus service between Parwich and Ashbourne has been running a regular (if heavily delayed) service through the day, and this also makes use of the lane between Bradbourne and Knockerdown/Carsington Water.
The latest word (17:00) on the Bradbourne lanes is that although the road condition is pretty good, problems occur when pulling over to let other vehicles pass – as you never quite know what you’re pulling over into.
Non-4X4 vehicles have been managing all day to get into Parwich via the southern road from the B5056. However, the road has been very slippery – particularly by the Red House (near the junction with the B5056), so the advice is to go easy on the brakes.
The builders at the Memorial Hall made it in this morning from Ripley & Ashover via Longcliffe in a car, but they said it was only passable with great care.
The milk van made it into the village, but it ran into difficulties on Monsdale Lane, just up from Spenedge (Don & Aud). A team of helpers managed to turn it around.
Postal deliveries were made as normal this morning. Thanks to our new postman for making it through.
The upper section of Creamery Lane (between the Monsdale Lane junction and Rathbone Hall) is more or less impassable to traffic – with the exception of the Peak Oil truck, which sprinted up to Val and Nick’s at 14:50. Kiln Lane is in a poor but slightly better state, but Matt H’s vehicle has become stuck by Rathbone Croft.
The estimated travelling time to Derby this morning was two hours. 2WD vehicles managed to make the journey, via the Via Gellia and the A6 through Belper. Matt H tells us that the return journey (via Ashbourne and Alsop) was problem-free.
The estimated travelling time to Buxton this morning was also two hours! Graham J managed to make the journey via Matlock.
It took Ian P 1.25 hours to travel from Parwich to Sheffield this morning: leaving at 6:25am and travelling via Longcliffe, Grangemill, Bakewell & Baslow. Ian tells us that his return journey was much easier.
The road at Longcliffe has been bad, and at one stage only passable by 4WD, but Ian (a 2WD driver) tells us that the road is now much better. The climb up to Longcliffe had been reported earlier as particularly tricky. We also heard that a lorry jack-knifed at Longcliffe during the morning.
The A6 to Buxton is OK, but side roads in Buxton are “lousy”. For Buxton-related travel and weather news, the rolling “ticker tape” at the top of the ever-reliable Buxton Weather site is being regularly updated.
Thanks to Rich G for alerting us to the BBC’s traffic updates for the Derby area, which are being regularly updated. It’s well worth bookmarking this page for future reference.
Do please keep us updated with any information you might have – it will be very gratefully received.
PARWICH.ORG 
Our groom (who by the way has only missed one getting here and does not have a 4×4) has just got here from Derby but says that the A515 is now closed from The Market place Ashbourne northwards. She had to come through Bradbourne where she says that cars are struggling in queues to get up and down the hill next to Netherton Hall. Very teacherous and slippy.
Just spoken to someone at Monyash and the A515 was closed as of an hour ago at the Longnor/Monyash junction B5055 and that the road through Monyash is very bad.
Matt has made it into Derby via Via Gellia and A6 through Belper but it took him 2hrs. Although his car has 4wd he did say 2wd drives were just managing. Looks like I am stuck at home with my 2wd.
Just got to Buxton – it’s taken 2 hours via Matlock (Longcliffe is very bad only passable with 4WD I think).
Road out of the village by the red house was very slippery, so go easy on the brakes.
A6 to Buxton is OK, but side roads in Buxton are lousy.
I hope the A515 between Buxton and Newhaven opens later. If anyone has news on this – please post it.
Thanks.
Thanks for all this info – it’s brilliant.
Needless to say am not going to Bakewell!!Sue
Made it to work in Sheffield ok this morning in my non-4×4, leaving at 06:20 via Longcliffe, Grangemill, Bakewell & Baslow arriving in the city centre 1.25 hours later. The worst bit was the climb up to Longcliffe. Just got to get home now! Coming home the same route, so any info appreciated.
Brian has just gone up through Alsop Road and says the road is now very clear. The A515 closure appears to be at Newhaven. He is on his way to Buxton via the A6
The A515 is fine with care from Alsop south, though the road closed signs are still up on Buxton Hill in Ashbourne.
Certainly no problems getting into Ashbourne through Alsop en le Dale apart from the growing number of pot holes on Dam Lane and the hill up onto the A515 from Alsop. I managed without any problem in a 4×4 but Brian F in his front wheel drive made it only on the third attempt.
The County Council website says they are continuing to grit most bus routes morning and evening (see http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/news_events/news/road_gritting.asp ), though they don’t seem to have done so through Parwich and Alsop today.
Well, made it home without any problems. The roads were all ok, including down from Longcliffe. The only bit I struggled with was our own driveway!
I have tried this afternoon to confirm whether or not the route through Parwich and Alsop is still to be gritted. Unfortunately I did not get to speak to the relevant person in Highways. We will try again tomorrow.
As far as the County Council call centre are aware most bus routes are still being gritted and they have passed on a request for our route to be gritted tonight. Do let us know if you see the gritter.
To report a road that needs gritting, ring the County Council on tel 08456 058 058, and select the appropriate option.
Derby to Parwich via Ashbourne and Alsop no problems apart from the ice ridge just before Emma and Robs’ – plenty of scraping under my car and could easily damage some.
Got up Kiln Lane (had to drop off bags of fire wood) and promptly got stuck outside Lewis and Mandy’s place 😳 Car now staying at the top until some thawing takes place…
One word of caution if driving to Winster in anything without snow chains…. avoid west bank (short cut from the pub to the main street) its an ice skating rink. This morning we decided to travel sideways down the hill avoiding the wall and cars with only inches to spare, and this afternoon couldn’t make it back up the hill (even in our trusted 4×4).
A515 between Newhaven and Buxton is now open, even if the signs say “Road Closed” – don’t believe them – it’s fine.