First of all I would like to say a very big thank you to the three Scottish Borders Council workers who came to my aid during last week's awful weather.
I have 15 stairs up to my front door and had been able to keep them safe by using household salt until it was impossible to find any in the shops. Due to a leak in the guttering and melting snow and icicles, my stairs had become very icy, but my neig
hbours, both of whom are over 70 years old, had it even worse with almost two inches of ice covering their stairs from top to bottom.
I came across three council workmen clearing the footbridge between Mansfield Road and Duke Street, and asked them if I could get a pail of grit. Five minutes later, on their way back to the depot for lunch, I met them at the gate with pail in hand. This was just enough to cover both sets of stairs, but on their way back from lunch they brought me a bit more which has helped tremendously. They are true stars in my eyes, and hats off to them and all those who are out there working day and night to clear our roads.
This brings me to my second reason for writing. I was disgusted to read the letters of complaint in last week's Hawick News, particularly the one which branded the salt shortage as 'a joke'. SBC can hardly be blamed for the fact that the weather has been exceptionally bad, and had this been a normal winter, the stocks of salt would have been quite adequate. As it is, it has had to ration what salt it does have which makes perfect sense to me.
And like everyone else I have found getting around a bit difficult, but like almost everyone I meet when I am out I choose to grin and bear it, and so far the majority of people I have spoken to think that SBC is doing the best it can under the circumstances.
Iain Coltman
Beaconsfield Terrace
With reference to last week's letter from the writer who didn't want to be identified, but still thought it perfectly acceptable to criticise Scottish Borders Council who did a cracking job in clearing the snow.
The mystery author obviously had no trouble getting his or her car out before travelling to Galashiels. However, just like the majority of townsfolk, I just had to sit tight and do without my car. Having witnessed some of the mammoth clear-up operation, I have nothing but praise for these teams. And on a personal note, I'm happy for my name to be published.
