Chairman critical of snow response

At last month’s meeting he said that the county council’s handling of the situation had been excellent at first, but after the first day of snow, they refused to come back to the village on health and safety grounds and were unwilling to send a snow plough, salt, additional men, vans or a digger to Wooler.

He described the county council’s path-gritting response in Wooler as very poor.

He will voice his concern and disappointment on behalf of the parish council at the next highways meeting. He said that the county council must be willing to provide a permanent salt store in the village, or be able to transport salt to the town in periods of bad weather.

He praised the efforts of local residents, particularly volunteers who helped grit public paths, and Phil Henderson, from the county council, for his tireless efforts.