It appears that a few roads have been closed in Ceredigion and most probably else where. Some of these I have been driving on just prior to closure. One has been closed for a while, I wont say if I have driven on it since but I have visited friends from both directions

My link

It just seems that the police or County Councils tend to close roads far more easily than they used to. I do not know what standard or yard stick they use to judge weather to close a road but I know one road was closed because the Snow Plough could not get up it. I had no problem what so ever scaling that road or descending it and so was shocked to see a ROAD CLOSED sign and a bank of snow deliberately placed to prevent access. I have friends up this road and have visited from both sides for access purposes so to speak and may have not returned by the same route.

Obviously some roads might be impassable if cars have completely blocked the way but my concern is about being swamped by the nanny state and that potentially peoples freedom of movement can be halted by the say so of who advised by who. I can not remember this ever happening in England and Wales before because of snow. That does not mean that it has not happens just that I am unaware of it. I did know that some roads in Scotland have been closed at times for snow and even have permanent gates and signs ready in place for use at such a time deemed fit However Scotland's Legal set up is different to that of England and Wales. It is a different Country.

Edited 13 January, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

I can't comment on how deep the snow is in Cardigan, but when the roads in Scotland are closed due to deep snow, we're talking so deep you can't get through in an AWD blade snowplough!

I have just read that some sections along the coast have 6 and 7 foot drifts. I did see fleets of JCBs' standing to waiting to start digging at one point.

If you breach a road closed notice, you may have insurance and legal issues

If you breach a road closed notice, you may have insurance and legal issues

That usually applies to official road closures. Just sticking a sign on may not be official. I am not sure exactly who put it their I know that the snow plough failed to reach the top from both directions. I had gone back and forth that same day prior to that and all of a sudden it was there. I had the impression that it was put in place by the snow plough team. In any case the people living on the road would know nothing of the road signs as they were on put either end of the road. I believe that they might not be mandatory obey sign but an advisory. Today one of the sign was pushed over. Probably by the residents in the village who would be just inside the sign at one end. If what your saying then the whole of that part of the village was driving illegally even tough the bottom most part had been swept clear of all snow by then. This further convinces me that this particular closure would have difficulty standing up in court. The other thing that often happens here in this locality i that road sighs stopping this or that that have been erected for what ever reason are then left in place more or less permanently because they are too lazy to remove them.

Police and councils can close roads in emergency situations, and simply placing a sign there is good enough.

If, as I've seen a number of times, the roads closed for an accident or incident, and some muppet believes the message doesnt apply to them soon come across a copper who's pleased to discuss the matter with the driver.

Some idiots were filmed crossing that unsafe bridge in cockermouth a few months back because they thought the sign was only 'advisory'.

Interestingly, just now on the local Wales BBC News, it was stated that some of these signs were put up to dissuade normal traffic but to allow 4x4 vehicles access. I must admit that looking at the local council link that was partly the impression that I had formed from their statements. Not that I hold the BBC to be properly informed.

Just had another look at this so called closed road above. It has 3 roads leading up to the summit. I thought as much, the third road has no sign saying ROAD CLOSED. I drove up to the top of this road also. Far worse than the other two road with a tighter turns. So the road closed can have no legal significance in this instance, It would never stand up in court and I would challenge it if summonsed. At the top I stopped to talk with some other friends I know quite a few families up there one of whom is injured and need to visit hospital. some families have become stranded as they feel fearful off travelling on the road. They tell me that the ROAD CLOSED sign is only meant to divert ordinary cars but allow 4x4's through. It does not say that on the sign however. This morning I also saw a Local councillor using his tractor to tow his car up the hill.

As you think it's OK, Anthony, take the risk.

But there will be a record of the closure somewhere, so I wouldnt crash if I were you.

Everyone and is dog is driving it now as the the snow is thawing very quickly indeed. The temperatures must be much higher. Which is good as my supply pipes are still frozen.

The closure is recorded I saw on a web site but it was not sign posted correctly. In this County things are rarely done properly anyway. It is likely that the signs will be left in place for months before someone steels them..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8494963.stm