Snow Call – Councillors’ verdict

Cllr Peter Phillips, snowed in at Frogs Gutter, anxiously awaited escape to an important hospital appointment.
“Thumbs down, I’m afraid, to Shropshire Council’s arrangements,” He said “I got an answer phone at the Highways depot, (7.30am) and the same for customer services centre; and the officer on the ’emergency’ line was unable to contact anyone until 8am. So, unable to contact anybody, I’d no idea what was happening.”
Thumbs decidedly up, however, for the local Highways boss, Gary Jones. “I’d emailed him the night before. On ringing my neighbour he, a farmer, had been contacted by Gary at 8am to phalange the road. And a gritter will also be sent, I hope, later.
Cllr Heather Kidd – who is Peter’s local councillor, said “I was shocked to find radio Shropshire saying that the Council’s snowline was unavailable this morning. The Council does need to do something to improve communications when we have these events.”
I am being repeatedly asked for salt heaps as the boxes are few and far between they would help in this case (1 box in about 2 miles I think) as the local could lay it in the tracks of vehicles. We had them until 3 years ago.”
“A lady living above Peter also needed a visit from a Health Visitor today. Thank goodness for Gary Jones, and initiative on the ground. And a big thank you!”