Perth residents rally to beat the snowy conditions

Jan 5 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE HARDY residents of Perth’s Tibbermore Gardens took to the streets during the recent bad weather and dug themselves to freedom.

Husband and wife duo Jim and Jean Harker were joined by neighbours John Cura, Sheila Swan, Jean Sharp and John Robertson – all of whom are of pensionable age – and big-hearted Jim Clark, who was described as “slightly younger”.

Describing the two-day mission, Mrs Harker said: “We ended-up clearing about a quarter of the Tibbermore Gardens area by ourselves.

“We manufactured a snowplough out of a piece of wood and had great fun and a bit of a laugh.

“On Monday, December 28, the council’s snowplough arrived in the afternoon – but we beat it to the punch.

“I walked, or rather slipped and slid, down into the town centre the day after and couldn’t believe the conditions – it was like a death trap really.

“Part of the St John’s Centre was closed for safety reasons and so were the council offices.

“It was like walking along a riverbed.

“I’m not blaming the council because they can’t do anything about the weather, we can’t expect them to work miracles.

“But, surely there are more people around like Jim, who could help the less able clear their own patch and put the ‘feel-good factor’ back into the community?” she asked.