Praise for Highland Council staffs' efforts in snow

Staff were praised for tackling difficult conditions

Home care workers have been praised by their boss for their efforts to reach vulnerable people through deep snow and over icy roads.

One member of Highland Council's staff was unable to return to her own home following a visit so spent the night with the person she provides cares for.

Another worker delivered coal in a bucket to heat a person's home.

Social work director Harriet Dempster said home care staff had been exceptional.

She said: "In some cases they have had to walk considerable distances.

"One member of staff has a 4x4 and was able to take colleagues out to places that would have been inaccessible without a 4x4."

Highland Council said its road gritter crews had used 30,000 tonnes of salt over the past three weeks - more than the total for the winter of 2006 into 2007.

'Snowfall respite'

It said priority for snow clearing and gritting has been given to roads giving access to shops, schools, hospitals, residential homes and bus routes.

A council spokesman said: "With a respite in snowfall, increasing attention is now being given to priority three and four routes - residential areas and rural areas."

The local authority also hopes to complete refuse collections.

The spokesman said: "The majority of homes have received a service, but those living in some rural areas and residential areas with cul-de-sacs will not have had their bins collected because the 26 tonne vehicles have difficulty in manoeuvring in heavy snow.

"Householders are asked to leave their bins out and the council will empty them as quickly as practicable."