Praise and appreciation for response to winter weather

The Highland Council has today paid tribute to its staff and local communities for their outstanding efforts in the face of last week's severe winter weather.

Since 1st January, Council gritting teams have worked tirelessly, clocking up more than 25,000 operating hours to keep the Highland road network moving - the longest road network of any council in Scotland, spanning over 4000 miles.

During the worst of the weather, more than 200 operatives and 120 gritter lorries, supported by 15 local contractors, were out treating roads.

For over a week amber and yellow weather warnings covered most of the region as heavy snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures caused prolonged disruption.

Areas including Caithness, Sutherland, Easter and Wester Ross, and Skye, were among the worst affected, with temperatures falling to -11 overnight in some locations.

The severe winter conditions let to multiple road closures and significant disruption to traffic and public transport, as week as waste collections. Schools were also impacted, with widespread closures as the term got underway last Wednesday (7 January).

As part of its extensive efforts to reach out and keep the public updated, Highland Council shared more than 200 social media updates between 31stDecember and 11th January. Daily reports on road condition and school closures were also shared each morning and distributed across national media outlets.

The focus is now on ensuring grit bins are replenished and roads are assessed for damage caused by the freeze and then thaw. Watercourses will also be checked for blockages caused by snowmelt debris.

Highland Council Convener, Cllr Bill Lobban, said: "Since the 1st of January severe winter weather has caused significant disruption across all parts of our region.

"This has brought challenges for everyone who lives in Highland, especially at a time following the holiday period, when so many people were returning to work and school.

"As we reflect on these difficult few days, it is important to recognise the extraordinary efforts that so many have made to ease the challenges we have all faced.

"Firstly, our roads teams have been working from the small hours into the late evenings to keep our road network open in the most hazardous of conditions.

"We should never underestimate the skill, dedication and courage required to carry out these duties - these workers deserve our appreciation, recognition and praise.

"Across the council, our teams have been working hard to support communities and each other - from street cleaning teams gritting footpaths to waste crews topping up grit bins.

"We've continued to work with our partners to share information, treat roads and pavements, and support vulnerable people and communities.

"Our teaching staff and transport operators have faced difficult decisions over the opening of schools and the provision of bus services.

"These are never easy calls to make, but we trust and respect their judgement to do what is right in the best interests of safety and for their school communities.

"The commitment and resilience shown by our staff, alongside the efforts of our crofters and farmers, local volunteers and partner agencies, has been outstanding.

"For us as a council, extreme weather events will always bring incidents from which we can learn for the future.

"We acknowledge that not every road and pavement will have been treated and cleared as timeously as residents would like.

"Our winter maintenance polices, and our system of priority routes for treatment are set in advance of each winter, but we are always listening and open to reviewing how we do things.

"It is important people continue to share their experiences with their council and community representatives.

"We are always looking to improve how we provide our own services, as well as the ways we support and empower communities to deliver the practical help that their residents need.

"I also know that many people will have been checking in on neighbours and supporting local volunteer efforts in recent days.

"These efforts and the willingness of people to step up to the plate embody the spirit of our unique region.

"Thank you for everything you continue to do for our communities."