Snowbound at Westside – 'If someone needs an ambulance they're not going to get through'
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A man living on a side road off the A836 at Dunnet says he and his neighbours are trapped by heavy snowfall and fears that emergency services will be unable to access the area.
Malcolm Clark lives at Westside near Mary-Ann's Cottage close to Dunnet and contacted the John O'Groat Journal to talk about his fears.
"Tesco can't get up to do food deliveries, the postman can't get up and if someone needs an ambulance they're not going to get through," said Mr Clark.
He says he is desperate for a snow plough to clear the road and sent an email to BEAR Scotland along with the Groat to help publicise the issue.
Highland Council is the responsible body for clearing the roads in his area and released a road condition report this morning stating that "four to five inches of fresh snowfall" fell across Caithness last night on all routes. Mr Clark took a picture showing the depth of snow on the road outside his home is 30-inches in some places and may be higher in areas affected by drifting.
The council's road bulletin issued at 9.02am continues: "All routes are being affected by drifting snow, especially the A836 at Dunnet/Mey and the A99 at John O' Groats. All main routes seeing a double run first before treating other priorities. Footpaths in towns are also affected by heavy snow fall. A few issues this morning with vehicles being stuck, but all moving now. All main routes open and passable."
"I tried to clear a path on Tuesday and Wednesday but by the end of the day it's gone," said Mr Clark this morning.
"We're getting blizzards and just had another white-out. It's horrendous. We've lived here 23 years and it's the deepest snow I've ever seen here. All the people are cut off. The main road is clear and this is when they should be coming on the side roads."
Highland Council was contacted and was only able to supply its gritting routes/policy from its website at: www.highland.gov.uk/readyforwinter
The website states that secondary roads are "treated mostly after the primary network has been completed" between 6am and 6pm Monday to Saturday and covering roads which in general connect smaller communities to the primary network.
It further states: "Minor rural and local access and residential roads. We will treat these roads as resources become available."
Mr Clark said: "This is our third day of being stuck in our house without any possibility of getting to the shops, the postman cannot deliver letters and food deliveries cannot make it to their destination. In an emergency it would be impossible for an ambulance to reach some of the houses due to the snow.
"The area has more houses than you probably think and is a mixture of young families and older people. We all need to be supported in this severe weather."
The Met Office currently has an Amber warning for snow across the area today and a Yellow Warning for tomorrow.
Traffic Scotland also advised drivers to use "alternate routes" after vehicles became stranded on the busy A9 trunk road due to heavy and drifting snow.
It has advised motorists that the road is closed in both directions at Helmsdale after vehicles became stuck in the wintry conditions between the village and Berriedale to the north. There are snow gates at Helmsdale and Berriedale, though it is unclear if the closure is between those two specific points.
