THE majority of schools in Haringey closed today and commuters were forced to stay at home, after the biggest snowfall in almost two decades. The city's transport network ground to halt after five inches of snow fell overnight - the heaviest in 18 years.
THE majority of schools in Haringey closed today and commuters were forced to stay at home, after the biggest snowfall in almost two decades.
The city's transport network ground to halt after five inches of snow fell overnight - the heaviest in 18 years. The entire bus network was suspended, leaving commuters and children in Crouch End stranded. Only the Victoria Tube line was functioning as normal, making it equally treacherous for residents in Hornsey and Muswell Hill to get to work.
In the west of the borough, only Coleridge Primary School, Alexandra Primary and Alexandra Park School reported that they had pupils - and lessons - as normal.
Shirley Boffey, headteacher of Coleridge said: "Some of the teachers walked for an hour and a half to get into school today. I'd say we've got about three quarters of the children. We've tried to make the most of the snow and have had some fun with it."
Our Lady of Muswell Hill RC Primary and St Mary's Infant and Junior Schools in Hornsey opened, but no pupils arrived so they were closed by midday.
Jonathan Bloch, a Lib Dem Cllr in Muswell Hill and CEO of a financial services company in Hatton Gardens, was not amused by the transport disruptions. His journey took twice as long as normal and only 10 of his 15 employees made it into the office.
Mr Bloch, 56, said: "There is always concern about having a contingency plan for pandemic flu and terrorist attacks, yet the city grinds to a halt when there is a few inches of snow.
"It's time that the organisations involved in keeping London running - such as TfL- find a solution so that when there is few inches of snow the city does not grind to halt.
"This does not happen in Vancouver or Toronto."
Meanwhile, Haringey Council suspended recycling and refuse collections and re-deployed staff to grit roads and pavements. Gritters were out on Sunday night to try to clear roads in the borough and prevent commuter chaos.
Adult social workers were trying to reach the most vulnerable in the borough, ensuring that they received their day care and meals on wheels as normal.
A spokesman for the council said: "We have and are identifying people who are most vulnerable and are making arrangements to support them.
"For people who receive home care services, staff are visiting those most in need of help as a priority.
"The meals on wheels service is getting meals to those people who will most need it, with some meals being walked round to users."
Haringey Council's community alarm office can be contacted on 020-8489 2365 if any vulnerable people need immediate help.
Primary Schools which closed in Crouch End, Hornsey and Muswell Hill:
Campsbourne
Muswell Hill Primary
Rhodes Avenue Primary
Rokesly Infant
Rokesly Junior
Our Lady of Muswell RC (open but no children arrived)
Rhodes Avenue Primary
St. Mary's CE Infant N8
St. Mary's CE Junior N8
St. Peter in Chains Infant
Tetherdown Primary
Weston Park
Secondary Schools:
Fortismere
Greig City Academy
Highgate Wood
Hornsey
Children's centres
Highgate
Campsbourne (closed)
Open as normal:
Alexandra Primary
Coleridge Primary
Alexandra Park School
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