Communities pull together to help snowbound residents

As snowbound communities across Perth and Kinross continued to suffer, heartening stories of people looking out for one another began to emerge.

“In my ward, the Carse of Gowrie, I was really pleased to see so many businesses and individuals offering to help local people,” said Conservative councillor Angus Forbes.

“Morris Leslie and McNiven Construction both offered to help clear snow for people stuck at home.

“I had reports of two young lads going door to door offering to clear paths for free and CPH Contracts just went out with a digger and cleared roads.

“There are far more decent people out there than we recognise and situations like this bring out the very best in people.”

Mr Forbes said that at one stage Errol was completely cut off by drifting snow.

The councillor, in his role as convener of Tayside Contracts, took the opportunity to personally thank one group who have been battling to keep the roads open.

He visited their Blairgowrie depot to meet some of the 300 or so staff who have been out across Perth and Kinross, Angus and Dundee.

“I wanted to thank them on behalf of everybody,” said Mr Forbes.

He was told that during the current emergency Tayside Contracts had 72 gritters out on the roads along with 12 pick-ups with small gritters, 64 footpath tractors, 31 tractors and trailers and two snow cutters.

“I am so grateful for their efforts as are the constituents of Perth and Kinross.”

In the Kinross area, where a number of roads were closed, people took to social media to praise locals and businesses including T&N Gilmartin from Cupar who had been out and cleared paths around Rachel House and local sheltered housing.

Another posted: “Farmers in Kinross-shire did themselves proud today keeping roads clear.”

Firefighters using a turntable ladder were in action in the centre of Perth after concerns were raised about the danger to the public from large icicles.

They attended in George Street and blocked the road off and removed the build up of ice.

Crew manager Mike Gaffney said: “If anyone lets us know of other ice building up we will come out.”