Councillor calls on local authority to use farmers to help clear snow in Sutherland in future
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Sutherland’s leading councillor is calling on the local authority to use local farmers and contractors to help clear roads across the county during periods of heavy snowfall.
Councillor Richard Gale, chairman of Sutherland County Committee, paid tribute to Highland Council’s road crews for their efforts in clearing roads following the heavy snowfall of recent weeks.
But he said: “In spite of the team’s best efforts there were some roads that simply could not be cleared given the resources available.
“As a result of one particular road not being cleared, residents living on that route were unable to leave their homes for five days and had no way of getting food or medication.
“They contacted the council on several occasions and were assured that the road would be cleared but it simply didn’t happen. That is only one example and I know that there are many others.”
Cllr Gale, who represents the East Sutherland and Edderton ward, said that farmers, crofters and contractors had offered their services to the council but had been turned down “for one reason or another”.
“It is now time for the council to take a much more practical and flexible approach and bring in help to clear the roads in these difficult times,” he said.
At a meeting of Sutherland County Committee meeting on Tuesday January 23, Cllr Gale proposed an urgent motion calling on the local authority to arrange an urgent review of current resources and look at developing a partnership arrangement with farmers and contractors who have machinery capable of clearing snow from non-priority in Sutherland.”
His motion was seconded by Cllr Michael Baird and will be put to the Highland Council at its next full meeting.
Cllr Leslie-Anne Niven said that she understood arrangements were in place in other areas of Highland for farmers and contractors to clear snow.
