Praise for staff who beat ‘beast’

Council staff and communities have been praised for their response to last month’s“beast from the east” snowstorm.

North Lanarkshire members also agreed to consider gritting arrangements around schools and sheltered housing, plus access to the area’s dairy farms, as part of a scheduled review of the authority’s winter policy.

Infrastructure convener Michael McPake told colleagues at last week’s council assembly: “The weather was the worst we’ve seen for several years – but when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

“The worst of the weather brought out the very best in people; like the homecare heroes who went out on a limb to make sure the most vulnerable were looked after and the roads team who really stepped up to the plate.

“I’d be here all night to mention everybody; I’ve never seen as much working together from communities.”

His motion, agreed at the meeting, noted “appreciation and thanks to all staff who tackled any and every aspect of the severe weather”, adding: “The fantastic effort demonstrated by staff enabled care for our most vulnerable citizens and support for communities cut off by snow; staff worked tirelessly with partners and the public to reestablish the road network and access to essential services.”

Meanwhile, the three political groupings reached a joint agreement on elements of the council’s winter policies to be reviewed following motions put forward by the SNP and Conservatives.

Coatbridge South member Tracy Carragher had called for pavements around schools and sheltered housing complexes to be added to the winter gritting policy, with grit bins being added at those sites.

Lost milk Chapelhall farmer James Millar, pictured with daughter Adele, had to throw away thousands of litres of milk during the beast from the east snowstorm