Snow-hit roads could risk lives in Pertshire

Dec 14 2010 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Snow-hit roads could cause lives

INADEQUATE clearing of snow from Fair City roads is putting elderly people’s lives at risk, a worried daughter claimed yesterday.

Mary Reilly, whose father Peter Forbes (77) stays at Balhousie North Inch Care Home, was horrified to learn that surrounding roads had not been suitably treated following last week’s extreme weather.

In particular, Mrs Reilly yesterday highlighted Hay Street outside the home as the worst hit, with access to the site over the past week almost impossible.

Besides concerns about staff and visitors’ attempts to reach the home’s 40 occupants, she went on to reveal that an ambulance crew called to a resident had struggled to free their vehicle which had become stuck in the treacherous conditions last Tuesday.

Mrs Reilly (55), who works in the care profession looking after disabled children, said: “When I went up to visit my father on Wednesday I thought it would be clear, but it was very difficult to get from Balhousie Street up to Hay Street.

“I was furious. People here depend on visitors, if we can’t get here to visit then it really affects them.

“Also an ambulance got stuck here on Tuesday night after picking up a resident. That could determine if a person lives or dies. It could have been my own father in that ambulance.

“I just think it is terrible, these roads should be prioritised.”

Admitting that last week’s adverse conditions had led to a “difficult” week for staff at the home, a spokesperson for Balhousie Care Group said: “We are aware of major issues around access to and from our care homes from Hay Street over the past couple of weeks, and the main road itself has been particularly treacherous during the recent heavy snowfalls.

“As a care home operator, the priority for our own maintenance staff has been to clear fire exits and pavement routes but the general access from Hay Street has been poor.

“While we fully appreciate that the snow has been heavy and the conditions have been extremely challenging, it is obviously of huge concern if the emergency services are not able to reach us, as well as making it harder for relatives to be able to visit residents.”

A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We recognise the concerns of the care home staff and we sent snow and ice clearing equipment out to Hay Street as soon as we were able to, on Friday.

“The road was then gritted on Saturday. However, there are limits to the service that can be provided and minor roads and pavements may remain untreated if spells of poor weather are frequent and widespread and treatment has to remain focussed on the priority routes.”

A representative from the Scottish Ambulance service said they were unaware of any problems with the call on Tuesday, however confirmed contingency measures were available in the occurrence of a vehicle getting into difficulty.