Hard-working heroes ensure services don't fall victim to the heavy snow
THEIR resilience and hard work have kept things business as usual, despite the heavy snow.
People across East Yorkshire have been battling the elements to keep services running, protect vulnerable residents in their communities, and open schools.
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TRUE GRIT: Keith Pearson, left, and Garry Hamilton of Bransholme Buddies clearing a path.
The bad weather – which has seen the earliest winter snowfall in 17 years – did cause disruption on some East Riding roads and dozens of schools have closed.
But several snow heroes have emerged, with people defying the big freeze.
Individuals and groups pulled together to:
Ensure bus services remained running across the region
Grit pavements in west Hull
Keep schools open in rural villages, including Walkington, near Beverley
Maintain postal services in East Yorkshire
Carry out shopping for elderly residents in Hull
Clear people's drives and pathways in Bransholme.
And the camaraderie is set to continue, with further heavy snow showers forecast until late on Thursday.
Overnight temperatures will remain sub zero, and the white stuff will reach depths of 20cm on higher ground.
To minimise the impact of the winter weather in Hull, the Bransholme Buddies community group delivered hot soup and rolls to elderly people in the estate as the cold snap set in.
Betty Bunby, 78, said the service was essential for isolated pensioners.
She said: "It's really nice that somebody thinks about people like us. I really enjoyed my soup, it was lovely.
"I can't go out when the weather is like this because I'm too frightened of falling."
Staff from the Dales Centre in Bransholme helped to make sure elderly people's drives and pathways were safe to walk on yesterday.
Walkington Primary School was one of the few to stay open in the Beverley area, with staff facing perilous journeys to get into work.
The region's buses were vital in ensuring people reached their workplaces.
Graham Renshaw, assistant operations manager at Stagecoach, said drivers had worked extra hours to make sure the company's vehicles reached their destinations.
He said: "Our staff have been superb, they have really gone the extra mile."
Peter Shipp, chairman of East Yorkshire Motor Services, said the firm would do its best to keep services as normal as possible.
He said: "Everything has been running or trying to run.
"Members of staff have faced difficult journeys into work, but we have enough of them in so as not to cause any problems, and they have done a great job as always."
In Hull, postmen braved the bracing conditions in the region to deliver mail.
28 Comments
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by Danny, sutton park
Wednesday, December 01 2010, 4:59PM
“loved digging the snow up for the elderly i have done my bit unlike some of you”
by Fantastic Voyager, What is Bullsoot?
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 7:33PM
“@Chris, East Yorkshire: please take up your very interesting point with Mark Loveday, a barrister at Tanfield Chambers, 2-5 Warwick Court, London WC1R 5DJ. 020-7421 5300. I imagine he knows a bit more about the law than you. Cheers!”
by chris, East Yorkshire
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 6:18PM
“fantastic voyager
BULLS**T
it the if you clear snow and anyone invited slips, YOU ARE LIABLE, if you leave the snow you are not
M HULL
if the postman walks on peoples paths with snow and is O.K. then he/she walks on ond cleared an falls flat on his a*** that is enough to sue you
my father dealt with it while working in insurance”
by Mike Hock, Wetwang
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 5:32PM
“Thank the lord for 'heroes'. Not only are are brave soldiers dodging bullets and mines in other parts of the world, but, we in Hull have our own 'heroes'. Men shovelling snow ffs!!!!
Tonight, before going out to do a heroic nightshift, I visited a chip shop in East Hull for some warm fare before venturing out. Imagine my surprise to find, that not only was it open, but against the odds, had managed to cook some food. When I commented on the owners bravery, he modestly shrugged off my comments, and said that anyone in his position (a chip shop owner), would have done the same, and oblivious to the weather outside, continued to fry spam fritters.
It brought a lump to my throat - I hate Spam!!
Carry on, brave 'heroes' of Hull (except teachers), and HDM - get a grip.”
by maddie, hull
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 5:27PM
“good on the people on bransholme what happen to the days when u was out off work you got sent out snow shoveling they used to pay them 10 aday for doing it so get the shovel out again i say”
by Clarice, Hull
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 5:14PM
“Obviously, the people of Bransholme are more kind hearted and have community spirit.
Not so, the miserable gits in Welton”
by Icicle, Going 2 Welton 4 a laugh!
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 4:50PM
“Frosty the Snowman, Welton.
What do you expect your neighbour to do? Your neighbour was probably astonished at your poor driving skills and was trying hard not to laugh. I couldn't have helped myself and would have laughed :) - LEARN TO DRIVE!”
by Frosty the Snowman, Welton, Welton
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 4:27PM
“Its really heart warming to read this article...
I have just spent the last 10 minutes wheel spinning and skidding outside my house trying to park in impossible snow and ice, while my "neighbour" 3 doors down chose to look the other way.
My employer has let us leave work at 3pm everyday this week to try and avoid driving in the dark icy conditions, and each time we leave the office my team members have assisted everybody out of an icy car park, often pushing stranded cars out, and also passers by who have got stuck too.
How anybody can turn a blind eye to somebody in distress is alien to me.
If this "neighbour" of mine had a snowman in his garden I would have been and kicked it's head in by now.”
by Mark, Hull
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 3:47PM
“MJ , there aren't enough jobs for all the unemployed , thats a fact wether you like it or not
Most people don't choose to be on benefits but some do . Why judge all unemployed people by the actions of a minority ?”
by Fantastic Voyager, Hull and Environs.
Tuesday, November 30 2010, 1:25PM
“From the link below:
"Your local authority is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the public highway and pavement. Under Section 41(1A) of the Highways Act 1980, the council must ensure that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.
On your own land, it is a different matter. You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as the postman) is likely to walk up your garden path, and you also know that the garden path is slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary.
However, you should not simply brush the snow from your path on to the public pavement. It is also a public nuisance to block the pavement of the road by sweeping snow from your property on to the highway."
So clear your own path, "...but you are taking a legal risk in clearing the public pavement - no matter how public-spirited" your actions may seem.”