Thank goodness the snow has gone!
After a heavy 6 inches out of the blue, Hampshire County Council and associated agencies (EHDC, HPC etc) did a first class job of clearing the priority one and Priority two routes (see earlier posts). Indeed they managed to get tractors and JCB’s into pretty much all of the roads on Downs and get them passable pretty quickly.
I heard from a few residents who needed to get out for Hospital appointments and other urgent events and was able to help a bit (That was me on the road legal quad bike delivering some supplies, checking grit bins, and in the yellow Land Rover helping with transport to a few residents).
If possible I would appreciate your views on what can be done to make it easier to manage next winter. Some of the roads in the estate, especially Wasdale, Eskdale and Francis Road amongst many others were (predictably) badly affected as they are very steep. There was a lot of community spirit with groups of people clearing snow together, but would additional grit bins in your area help? please can you let me know where one would be useful and I will speak to HCC. So far I have asked for one at the bottom end of Wasdale Close.
Positive feedback also is appreciated so this can be passed onto HCC, it will make the point that the level of coverage and support has been appreciated and welcome, and they should plan it again for next winter if the need arrises.
In the meantime, the award for the best use of the snow goes to a house in north Road for their snow igloo. I work in Construction for my day job, and this one household built more in the snow than all of my projects achieved in the last week!
