LET’S start by stating the bleedin obvious, it’s January, it’s winter and it snows sometimes in winter. It gets up my nose that so many people seem to take no precautions to help themselves by some very simple actions. Some people walk out on icy pavements in totally inappropriate footwear, fashion shoes with smooth soles, and then they wonder why they end-up on their arses. Especially as they could buy a pair of snow grips – I saw them advertised for just £2.99 in a home shopping brochure enclosed with our TV Magazine. If they can’t get hold of grips then at least wear stout shoes with a ribbed sole.
When it comes to roads I was astounded by the interview on Tuesday’s evening news with Kevin Sewell of Borders Council, when he said: “We were unaware of the possibility of heavy snow.” I found this astonishing given that even up here in Shetland I was aware of the possibility of heavy snow in the north of England spreading into the Borders during Monday. This apparent incompetence by those charged with providing gritting roads is hardly the fault of the Scottish Government, no matter how hard the EBC tries to tell us otherwise.
Charlie Gallagher
Shetland
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