Peterborough feels brunt of highest winds in a decade from Storm Doris

The Met Office said gusts of 74mph were felt at Wittering yesterday (Thursday, February 23) at 2pm, the highest figure since 78mph was recorded on January 18, 2007.

The highest ever recorded wind in Wittering was 105mph at 11pm on January 2, 1976.

The gusts which hit Wittering yesterday were the joint 10th highest recorded from more than 100 weather stations dotted across the country.

The highest recorded wind was 94mph at Capel Curig in the heart of Snowdonia.

Storm Doris was noticeable for the number of lorries which overturned, and John Bridge, chief executive of the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, and former owner of a haulage firm, said it was up to individual companies to decide whether to send their HGVs onto the road or not.

“People have to look at it and make their own risk assessment. There was a lot of publicity about the storm in the local and national press and people should be responsible to make a proper response to it,” he said.

“The real problem with the road haulage industry is often there can be penalties for people if they do not achieve their times. Clearly there’s pressure to keep schedules going.

“What I found disturbing while I was driving around yesterday was the drivers driving the same way as normal and overtaking on the duel carriageway. People were not adjusting their driving.”

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