City battered by gale force winds Published on Tuesday 3 January 2012 12:38 EDINBURGH was today battered by gale force winds with gusts of more than 100mph, bringing down trees and causing travel chaos. Waverley Station was closed and the access road to Edinburgh Airport was shut. Fallen trees blocked roads across the city including Melville Drive and Queensferry Road and the Forth Road Bridge was completely closed. Matt Dobson, a forecaster with Meteogroup said the winds were peaking in the central belt this morning, but warned the north of the country would be hit later. Gusts of up to 102mph were recorded on Blackford Hill. Motorists were urged to take extreme care, although police said that warnings had been scaled down at 1.25pm as the winds lessened, with motorists advised that they could travel but should expect disruption. Assistant Chief Constable Bill Skelly chaired a tactical meeting of the Strategic Co-ordinating Group at Force headquarters at Fettes, Edinburgh, to ensure all the partner agencies were responding to the severe weather conditions in a co-ordinated manner. Fallen trees, some over turned heavy goods vehicles, structural damage to buildings and debris were causing hazards for motorists. The Lothian and Borders Police Force Control Centre received a high volume of 999 calls during the morning from members of the public looking for help with weather-related incidents. ACC Skelly said: "There have been a significant number of calls this morning specifically in connection with the severe weather we are experiencing. We are assessing and prioritising these calls and deploying our officers accordingly.. The weather has had a significant impact on the roads network in our area, with the Forth Road Bridge closed to traffic. The high winds are also causing problems for high-sided vehicles. Fortunately it would appear there have been no serious injuries and the indications are that the worst of the weather may be behind us now. However the forecast for the next few days is for strong winds and heavy rain, so I would ask the public to take appropriate steps to ensure their own safety and that of their properties. We are receiving continuous updates from the Met Office and I would urge the public to pay close attention to weather and road updates and act accordingly. We are working with our colleagues in the local authorities, NHS and utility agencies to bring about a return to normality as quickly as possible. Transport Minister Keith Brown urged people to plan ahead before setting out on their journey. He said: "I would urge everyone to take the time to check before they travel and make the necessary preparations before setting off. With further snow and high winds forecast, I would ask the travelling public to play their part by checking their journeys in advance, making the necessary preparations and following police travel advice. Our transport teams monitor the situation round the clock and will continue to keep a watch on our transport networks to minimise and potential disruption and keep Scotland moving. If you have pictures of the impact of the storm in your area email enpics@edinburghnews.com or phone the newsdesk on 0131 620 8734