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The truths they don't want you to read....

Monday, January 04, 2010

Ice and snow in Winter shocker!

The headline in Hebrides News says it all:
Ice shuts schools as salt supplies almost run out
Having got the kids back into an early-bed routine in preparation for what is for us the busiest month of the year, the Comhairle have managed to ensure that the Primary School and the Nursery are closed tomorrow; and I guess Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, given the forecasts.

With something like two months work to be packed into January, it is all going a bit mental in the Nicolson residence tonight.

The office phones are diverted to the mobile, if they are not answered within a number of rings (which also acts as an answering machine), and we had about half-a-dozen calls from Englandshire today, but the emails and calls will start in earnest tomorrow. Past experience is that the first day back is normally utterly crazy, and tomorrow will be no exception, only even worse as we will not be able to access the files and we will be working from two locations, or possibly exclusively from home.

Looking out the window at 6:30pm, there is no traffic moving; the snow is falling and lying heavily on the roads; no-one is moving - if they dare to risk life and limb; and the weather forecast has just confirmed the adverse outlook.

#Things can only get better#

Gritter crew at workGritter crews hard at work in Stornoway

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

why is there nothing about this on the council website? what is the point in having a website if it never updated, even with emergency information???

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many claims the Comhairle will have for broken bones this year? The state of our roads and pavements is a disgrace and all because they are trying to save money. As usual it is at the publics' expense rather than their own fat cat salaries which should be cut.

I bet the teachers and council staff will all be paid for not attending work tomorrow but who will pay the self-employed or SME employee if they cannot attend work because their children cannot attend school. The long and short of it is they won't be paid or be expected to take a day's holiday entitlement for not turning up.

It's a F***ing mess....

LazyChicken said...

It will be posted on their website later this week, when some of them can manage in to work.

Anonymous said...

Council website is a joke. I have flagged this with three councillors and the MSP and no one cares.

It should have minutes and agendas on it. It doesnt. It should be a portal for the islands. it isnt. It should have up to date emergency news. Again a waste of out tax payers cash.

How huch more can the muppets get away with?

Anonymous said...

Oh come on now, the poor Comhairle workers deserve a couple of extra days off work they do work soooo hard during the year....

Anonymous said...

An Lanntair must have seen the long term forcast, judging by their (lack of) programme this month.

Anonymous said...

"things can only get better"
Are you having a laugh. I've just read on heb news that the mobile library has been affected by the weather!! and wont be round for another 3 weeks will i get fined for returning my book late.
Is this just another way of the council scamming us for cash. :-)

Polar Bear said...

Here are some minutes posted on the council website:

http://www.w-isles.gov.uk/committees/transportation/agendas/june2009/dmr21112.pdf

Polar Bear said...

Damn, why does that happen? Here's the rest of that link

/june2009/dmr21112.pdf

Polar Bollocks said...

Polar Bear

The Comhairle use the website to excuse their failure to keep the public informed.

The agendas aren't posted until after the meeting takes place, and that is what passes for consultation by the Sh... er Whitehouse.

Todays news (is that a f'ing joke?) on the website is the December issue of a schools newsletter.

frozen claw said...

Young Mr Polar Bear, that link is interesting and relevant but is an officer's report with recommendations, not a minute (nor an agenda).

Anonymous said...

The council is listed in the Times newspapers list of crap councils for dealing with the weather. Expect churlish press statement from Honorable Chairman Campbell pouring scorn on those 'idiots who have no understanding of the special difficulties experienced by our remote council with special hardships unique to Western Isles, including roads, pavements and er...weather'.

Polar Bear said...

Dear Mr Claw

Point taken but how much do you think they will overspend this year if they overpsent by £530k last year when global warming was at its peak?

P.Bear

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:48

It's all there if you search hard enough although I have to admit it's not easy to find. This is just a topical example of what can be found if you have the patience to delve into the Council website.

Generally I agree with other Bloggers, the Council website is crap.

Anonymous said...

It should be a basic for putting news and info out there into the community.

Perhaps one of our prospective MSPs might put this on their to-do list. Perhaps not their gig really, but the councillors are a waste of space and there is no point talking to them.

So many pseudo politicans on here you wonder what they all do. The Comhairle is just one big love-in where all are just up for self protection and dont want to rock the boat.

Anonymous said...

Anon 4:30pm
I think you probably meant to type typical but you hit the nail on the head with topical for the report that you "found"

This decision has left the Comhairle with blood on their hands, many broken bones and the old and fragile scared and unable to leave their homes.

Good one, for their next trick......

Anonymous said...

Wed 6th Jan 0710hrs
Watched the gritter in Carloway grit the council car park side of the new Carloway centre but it did not enter the Health Board side for the Drs surgery. Although now there appears to be several cars and public trying to enter the surgery,very gingerly, there appears to be no one using the council side car park.....funny that!

Anonymous said...

Personally, I blame all the bad weather on Sunday Sailings.

Anonymous said...

Just finished chiseling the global warming of my path.

Dr Evadne said...

If anyone has any spare 2010 calendars, please send to the numpty that updates the council website.

Anonymous said...

I have a boil on my Ar$e- the Dr.said I lacked true grit and it was the Comhairle's fault.