26 South West Building & Construction

February 2010

ASHBURTON STOVE & FLUE

THE BIG FREEZE

Woodburning & Multi Fuel Stoves Chimney Lining and Flue Systems Stove Repairs & Refurbishment Supplied & Fitted

Tel/Fax: 01364 654355

Contact Steve on:

Chuley Road, Ashburton, Devon, TQ13 7DH Email: ash.steel@hotmail.co.uk

Don’t Get Left Out in the COLD

● Biomass Heating ● Ground and Air Source Heating Pumps ● Solar Water Heating ● Solid Fuel ● Energy Efficient Gas Boilers

Contact: Mike or Jill Mackmurdie on

www.amackmurdie.ltd.uk

T: 01237 422918

Mobile : Mike 07760 759399 Mobile: Jill 07776 204039

R&D

Water Services

All external pipework services.

Specialising in water pipes for domestic & commercial usage.

• Coiled drainage pipes • Sewer pipes

• MDPE water pipes • Septic pipes • Stop taps

Leak Detection Specialist

Fast, efficient service from the professionals at competitive rates.

FREEPHONE: 0800 032 7295 MOB: 07796 015368

Snow and ice takes its toll

SNOW and ice has taken its toll on the South West this winter.

The big freeze in December and January spanned several weeks, causing travel disruption and hampering day- to-day business including construction activities. Working on outdoor construction projects became very difficult and builders were glad of any indoor work. Hauliers found it virtually impossible to operate in areas where minor roads were treacherous because they had not been salted.

Gase Safety Registered 222767

The cold spell in December and January was the worst for around 30 years. Nearly all areas of the region saw snowfall, with higher ground being particularly hard hit. Bitter winds blowing in from northern Europe meant the big freeze felt even colder at times. Nationally, a temperature of -22.3C (-8.1F) was registered in Altnaharra in Scotland - very close to the 22.9C (-9.2F) in the South Pole. Temperatures in the South

West also plummeted well below zero at night.

Scores of large businesses were forced to restrict their consumption of gas by the National Grid in a bid to conserve supplies in the face of record demand.

And council leaders agreed to reduce their use of salting grit by a quarter to eke out supplies.

At the height of the big freeze, police in Devon urged sightseers to avoid Dartmoor where many roads were closed or impassable.

Electricity supplies to some properties were also disrupted by the bad weather. Burst pipes have

been

another problem during the big freeze and subsequent thaw.

Roads and properties have been hit by bursts. Road surfaces have also been damaged by ice and snow and councils are faced with expensive repair bills. The big freeze has led some people to question the idea of climate change. However, most climate change scientists agree that the cold weather should not obscure the fact that global warming is still taking place.

S Goodman

Plumbing & Heating

All aspects of Plumbing

• Cost Effective Heating Solutions

• Central Heating • Underfloor Heating • Solar Heating • Geothermal Heating • Pressurised Hot Water Systems • Oil Tank Renewal & Plumbing

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