MLA was 'left helpless'

With temperatures still registering well below zero, and with warnings of more to come, Mr Hay stated that Road Services need to redress their policies for future winters.

"I have never witnessed a winter like this. I really believe Road Services need to look at a better method of keeping roads and footpaths open. Some people have been unable to leave their homes for weeks and elderly people have not received any home help for days," he said.

The DUP MLA said that he has been inundated with complaints about a lack of gritting, particularly from the elderly and residents of rural areas.

"I am not placing blame at the feet of Road Service officials, but most people would say that they need to look at their methods. I know they have a policy of keeping main roads and routes open, that is all very well but more consideration needs to be given to rural communities. I have had many calls from elderly people who have been unable to get out at all and this is a very frightening experience for them.

"I spent most of the Christmas period making calls to Road Services to try and get the problem alleviated, but the requests appeared to fall on deaf ears. For the first time in 30 years as a public representative I felt really helpless. I felt that my representation was failing."

"I had a call from a milk farmer on the Ballybogey Road who said that the conditions were lethal for farmers trying to continue their business but for the ordinary driver in the area as well."

An angry William Hay also stated that salt boxes were not being filled up and lambasted Road Services policy of not providing individuals with salt or grit, despite many requests. He said that there needed to be a return to the policy of some years ago of supplying gritting materials to rural areas in particular, where in the past the help of the farming community was harnessed in helping to resolve the issue of frozen conditions. He also called for the establishment of a database of elderly people who are most affected by the icy conditions so that help can be prioritised in the future.