HEAVY rain showers have been blamed for causing ‘treacherous’ conditions following heavy snowfall.

Roads throughout the city came to a standstill as motorists attempted to contend with the extreme weather.

Glasgow City Council have dismissed claims that they failed to act ahead of the predicted snowfall on the coldest night of the year.

The local authority said that heavy showers, washing newly laid salt from the roads, created the challenging conditions.

Private contractors have been drafted in to support hundreds of council staff carrying out scheduled gritting operations.

More than 1,300 tonnes of salt has been spread by workers over the past four days, following a yellow weather warning from the Met Office.

Despite operations on priority bus and arterial routes being at full capacity, Glasgow residents blasted the council for failing to do more.

Many residential streets were left unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians due to slippery conditions.

Both First Bus and McGills were forced to suspend several services.

Routes in Clydebank, Drumchapel, Ruchill and Newlands were abandoned while vehicles became stuck in snow in Kelvindale and Partick.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “Gritting operations were at full capacity on Friday.

“We carried out two scheduled gritting operations across the city’s priority bus and arterial routes at 5am and noon on Friday and we have another planned for 8pm.

“A total of 24 snow ploughs have been deployed and we’ve more than 200 staff gritting pavements across the city.

“The prevalence of heavy showers, washing newly laid salt, from the roads has proved challenging this year.

“Over the last four days 1,300 tonnes of salt has been spread by hundreds of council staff supported by private contractors.

“In addition we’re continually re-filling around 1,400 grit bins across Glasgow.

“We’re continually monitoring and reviewing the weather situation and responding to conditions.”

Priority routes including designated school drop off points, road access points to fire, ambulance and police stations, bus garages and local shopping and health centres, will be serviced by gritters over the coming days.

The council are asking the public to adopt their ‘snow code’ which encourages people to clear snow and ice from paths, pavements and public spaces as residents “have a responsibility to be careful themselves”.

Workers including taxi and bus drivers faced a difficult shift.

Stephen Flynn, chairman of the executive committee of Glasgow Taxis, commended the work of Glasgow City Council.

He commented: “All our employees - both on the roads and in the call centre - have handled the situation magnificently, as they always do when extreme weather strikes.

“Our drivers are going about their business with care considering the conditions. We appreciate all the hard work from Glasgow City Council to clear the roads.”

Pedestrians also faced the brunt of the cold weather with many pavements left untouched by gritters.

One woman who slipped and injured herself on Cadogan Street in the city centre, faced a 40-minute wait for an ambulance.

The injured female had been on the ice for 90 minutes before receiving treatment.

A total of six falls were recorded by ambulance services until 1pm on Friday.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said all hospitals were coping ‘well’ with all deliveries arriving on time.

She added: “Our staff worked very hard to maintain a normal service and members of the facilities teams have been busy clearing and gritting access roads on our hospital sites.”

Angry readers take to social media

THE EVENING Times was inundated with complaints about a lack of gritting from readers on social media: