Army called out to help people in Birr District during cold snap

THE Army was called out to help people in South Offaly attend their hospital appointments during the recent Cold Snap.
Cllr Peter Ormond, Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District, extended his thanks to the Irish Army for their invaluable assistance.
“They brought people to their essential hospital appointments, whether it be chemotherapy, dialysis, etc.” He said the Order of Malta and the Gardaí had also provided essential assistance during the Arctic spell.
Cllr Seán Maher said the Councillors had received a lot of phone calls from residents who were angry because their housing estates hadn't been salted, resulting in treacherous conditions.
Cllr Peter Ormond said he has sympathy for those in housing estates. “I think we should try and find some way of helping them.” Cllr Maher suggested placing Salt Bins in the estates during multi-day periods of freezing conditions. “Cavan and Monaghan County Councils do it. It works quite well and is definitely better than doing nothing. I think we should try it in Offaly.” Cllr Ormond remarked that it would be an idea which he would back.
The Cathaoirleach pointed out that an insufficient budget and a lack of manpower are the reasons why the Council cannot grit every road and every housing estate. He praised the outdoor staff for working very hard during the Cold Snap. “They worked from 4pm to 8am every night, salting roads two to three times during each night. As well as all the National roads they salted some of the more popular Regional roads such as the Birr to Banagher road, the R439, and the Black Bull to Shinrone road, the R492.”
The Cathaoirleach said there were some areas which received little or no grit, including Roscomroe, Coolderry, Killavilla, Aghancon and Clareen. “Unfortunately our budget didn't stretch to those areas, parts of which can be quite hilly and therefore more difficult.” He also said that not all the footpaths in the District's towns and villages were salted.
Cllr John Leahy said the road maintenance crews, the gritting trucks “did an unbelievable job in very difficult circumstances. I also think management communicated well with us through the WhatsApp system.”