SNOW: Traffic gridlocked around Haywards Heath and Lindfield

All roads around the centre of Haywards Heath were gridlocked as snow plunged the area into chaos last night (Monday).
Valebridge Rd Burgess Hill driver gets help pic Phil DennettValebridge Rd Burgess Hill driver gets help pic Phil Dennett
Valebridge Rd Burgess Hill driver gets help pic Phil Dennett

South Road, Hazelgrove Road, Perrymount Road, The Broadway, Sydney Road, Queens Road, Haywards Road, Paddockhurst Road and Muster Green were among the casualties as the snow began to fall seriously just after 4pm.

People left their offices early but were caught out by the snow that appeared to be fairly light but quickly made roads treacherous.

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Fire and rescue crews from Haywards Heath Fire Station came out of their Mill Green Road base to try and help motorists.

They used buckets of salt which they were sprinkling by hand at the junction of Queens Road and Mill Green Road but cars continued to struggle across the interchange.

The highpoint around Commercial Square was particularly bad as vehicles became jammed around the railway station with taxis unable to move disembarked train travellers either.

The Balcombe Road coming off the M23 at junction 10a into Mid Sussex also came to a halt just north of Borde Hill were the steep incline to the top of the hill made driving hazardous and extremely slow.

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Vehicles were waiting for a clear stretch of road up the hills before they set off one at a time to attempt the incline without having to stop.

Another point of chaos where traffic was gridlocked in all directions was Oathall Road where it meets West Common and Summerhill Lane going into Lindfield.

The pinpoint at the bottom of several inclines meant traffic going into Sydney Road and Queens Road sat for long periods of time unable ot move in any direction.