BrianHealy.net

No, it’s not an optical illusion, trick of the light or anything like that… this photo was taken by my wife, from her home office window a few moments ago.

Its a snow plough! Or, at least a JCB with a plough attached which, let’s face it, is close enough.  This surely disproves any notion that such beasts are a mythical entity or the stuff of folklore and legend.

As 2009 draws to a close I would to take this opportunity to thank West Lothian Council for their effort – or lack of it – in dealing with the cold snap that has affected the region over the past 10 or so days. Yes, they may have been battling to keep open the major routes through the area – the M8; the A899; A71; A89 – but really, what use is it keeping these routes open when people are having difficulty even getting out their housing scheme in order to reach these major routes?

I’ve yet to see a gritter in Livingston anywhere other than going up and down the dual-carriageway. I’ve just come along the A71 into Edinburgh, which is completely untouched after snow and -5 temperatures overnight. Driving was a bit hairy as a result but this isn’t the first time this winter I’ve had to drive on poorly-or-untreated roads and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

My own street in Livingston has a 9” high ridge of hard-packed snow and ice running down the centre of the road, where cars have tried to navigate up and down the street. This ridge scrapes along the underside of my car and if it weren’t for our attempts to clear the bottom of the street where the road bends, there would bound to have been accidents! Residents are struggling to park their cars and are abandoning them where they lie stuck, especially as the entrance/exit to the scheme is built on a hill. Clown drivers who park right on the bend at the top of the hill don’t help though.

The pavements haven’t been touched either and fresh snow on top of ice makes for treacherous walking conditions and even the ring-road – a bus-route – has hardly been treated, and I reckon its down to the traffic on the road that has kept the snow and ice to a minimum.

Now, WLC may claim that resources are stretched but I’m sure they won’t be slow in chasing me for my monthly council tax payment. I wonder if I’ll get away with the same excuse that my resources are stretched? I very much doubt it, but should any damage occur to my car because of WLC’s failure then they can expect to foot the repair bill.