Not an easy task (From Durham Times)

Not an easy task

1:35pm Friday 8th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

LOCAL authorities have come in for criticism this week. As the snow has fallen and the ice has formed, thousands of miles of roads and paths have become a lottery, especially so for the elderly and infirm.

The frustration is understandable. Local authorities do so many things affecting so many aspects of people’s lives these days, mainly because of Westminster edicts, it should be said, and taxpayers do not understand why something simple like clearing a side road or residential path can’t be done.

Councils employ more and more people, but have fewer to carry out such mundane tasks and, in truth, it would not make sense for authorities to have large numbers of staff to deal with what are occasional events. For every winter like this one, we have ten which are generally mild. Just switching refuse collectors to snow-clearing duties is not the answer because there is simply not enough of them.

This is the time for self-help (here we have to salute Durham restaurant employee Sarah Hodgson for walking 15 miles to work this week) and helping others, avoiding going out unless absolutely necessary, being a good neighbour and using common sense.

We should acknowledge this is an exceptional weather and accept that only so much can be done by the authorities to clear snow and ice. We have to bear up with the best humour we can muster.

• Print
• Email
• Share