Post by Kirsty on Dec 10, 2010 16:26:47 GMT
RURAL communities have accused the borough council of “throwing them on the scrapheap” while concentrating on clearing the area’s major routes—leaving many cut off for almost a week.
Rotherham Borough Council’s focus on main roads during the past fortnight’s gritting operations has led to calls for the area’s farmers to be compensated for becoming part of an official rural response which could be called on again in future.
Villagers claimed this week that they had been neglected by the authority’s gritters and snow ploughs.
And while roads to Hooton Levitt, near Maltby, remained closed until Tuesday—seven days after the area’s heaviest snowfall—residents in Firbeck, Letwell and Gildingwells were helped by a farmer who voluntarily cleared more than five miles of country lanes, rescuing numerous motorists.
Phil Rogers, the landlord at Firbeck’s Black Lion pub, said: “On behalf of myself and all the people of Firbeck I have to extend a heartfelt thanks to John Hollingworth and his team for clearing the roads into Firbeck.
“He went out in the middle of last week and cleared the road from Woodsetts, through Gildingwells and Letwell, to Firbeck, and that offered a lifeline to me and to the villagers who wouldn’t have been able to get out otherwise.
“My business would have been crushed without his help. The council have put no effort into helping the rural communities whatsoever.”
Farmers joined mountain tescue teams and emergency services last week in coming to the aid of stranded motorists on the A57 near South Anston.
Their heavy machinery proved essential in helping free dozens of snowbound vehicles.
Streetpride area manager, Colin Knight, said: “The farmers in the area have got to work helping us to clear the hard-to-reach areas of the borough.
“Their selfless actions have really helped and we’d like to pass on our sincere thanks.”
The borough council’s road-clearing efforts have seen around 300 tonnes of grit spread each day on major routes.
Ten diggers were also hired by the authority this week to help clear the snow.
The chairman of Woodsetts Parish Council, Richard Swann, was among those calling for a formal deal between farmers and the council.
He said: “These people have used days’ worth of labour, their own machinery and their own fuel to dig the borough out of a real hole.
Rotherham Borough Council’s focus on main roads during the past fortnight’s gritting operations has led to calls for the area’s farmers to be compensated for becoming part of an official rural response which could be called on again in future.
Villagers claimed this week that they had been neglected by the authority’s gritters and snow ploughs.
And while roads to Hooton Levitt, near Maltby, remained closed until Tuesday—seven days after the area’s heaviest snowfall—residents in Firbeck, Letwell and Gildingwells were helped by a farmer who voluntarily cleared more than five miles of country lanes, rescuing numerous motorists.
Phil Rogers, the landlord at Firbeck’s Black Lion pub, said: “On behalf of myself and all the people of Firbeck I have to extend a heartfelt thanks to John Hollingworth and his team for clearing the roads into Firbeck.
“He went out in the middle of last week and cleared the road from Woodsetts, through Gildingwells and Letwell, to Firbeck, and that offered a lifeline to me and to the villagers who wouldn’t have been able to get out otherwise.
“My business would have been crushed without his help. The council have put no effort into helping the rural communities whatsoever.”
Farmers joined mountain tescue teams and emergency services last week in coming to the aid of stranded motorists on the A57 near South Anston.
Their heavy machinery proved essential in helping free dozens of snowbound vehicles.
Streetpride area manager, Colin Knight, said: “The farmers in the area have got to work helping us to clear the hard-to-reach areas of the borough.
“Their selfless actions have really helped and we’d like to pass on our sincere thanks.”
The borough council’s road-clearing efforts have seen around 300 tonnes of grit spread each day on major routes.
Ten diggers were also hired by the authority this week to help clear the snow.
The chairman of Woodsetts Parish Council, Richard Swann, was among those calling for a formal deal between farmers and the council.
He said: “These people have used days’ worth of labour, their own machinery and their own fuel to dig the borough out of a real hole.
we too were snowbound for 10 day's,only time saw a gritter was going up and down main road......Why are the snowplough's/gritting lorries only two wheel drive?