Quite right, I watched the stream at Manchester from early doors. I reckon they had maybe an inch or two tops (the grass was still visible).Please, for goodness sake, let's not start criticising LBA already (again) because it doesn't get the airport open as quickly as LPL or MAN!. They cannot be compared. LPL is more or less at sea level and MAN is much lower than LBA so both will have less snow to clear, and in the case of MAN, loads more money to invest in hugely expensive snow clearing equipment, not to mention a substantially larger workforce to operate it.
It's still snowing here in Cookridge. I have around 7" of white stuff on my conservatory roof, so even as they clear the runway it will be covering over again. Even with runways and taxiways clear, it's the braking action that will determine when movements can start.
It seems to me that every time it snows at LBA, the airport, and by implication the staff, are criticised because it takes longer to re-open than other airports, none of which are situated nearly 700' above sea level!
It was also raining from before 10am, whilst LBA had 6/7 inches and was still falling til lunchtime.
It’s madness to compare the two and to criticise LBA and its capabilities