BY KIRSTY WATT
A Highland Council roads operative told the Free Press this week that he is getting “really frustrated” by social media posts criticising local gritting teams.
Following public complaints suggesting an inadequacy of gritting during the recent cold snap, Ronnie Anderson, based in North Skye, said: “The thing that bugs me the most is the criticism [people post] when they don’t actually understand anything about it. People can go on social media all they want saying the Council are doing a poor job, but we are working absolutely flat out, we can’t do any better than we are doing.”
Every night during a cold snap, Highland Council’s road teams are out in often treacherous conditions pre-gritting the roads between 5pm and 9pm to reduce the amount of ice forming. They then return at 6am the next morning to re-grit, and in snowy conditions plough, the same roads.
Priority is given to main roads and key transport corridors to ensure access for emergency services, freight, and essential travel across the region.
Mr Anderson said: “We have to go out at 6am in the morning when there is sheet ice everywhere – we are pretty stressed-out going into these conditions.”
Already this year several gritters have gone off the road in Skye and on the mainland as they try to open up travel for the public.
“Sometimes people think we are going out and not salting the road, but I can assure you 100 per cent that we are. If I am going into Glendale for example, I have to remember that I have to drive back out of there again, so I have to make that road safe for myself as well,” Mr Anderson said.
“I think I am talking on behalf of all the guys, but we get so frustrated [about all the criticism]. Last year, it was quite bad as well. I would come home after gritting all day and all you would see is a barrage of abuse from certain people.”
As well as gritting and ploughing, during the past few weeks Highland Council road teams were also involved in escorting ambulances through hazardous conditions using snowploughs, assisting stranded motorists, and supporting vehicle recoveries.
Mr Anderson added: “We are not allowed to respond to the criticism on social media, it’s council policy, but trust me, we see it and get really frustrated by it.”