Snowed-in, but still Rachel has her say

IT takes a lot to prevent senior councillor Rachel Rea from attending meetings and Monday was one of those rare occasions when she was absent.

Mrs Rea, the DUP Coast Road representative, was unable to drive from her Carnalbanagh home because of the icy conditions, but the Roads Service’s sternest critic would not be denied the opportunity to speak out on the subject of gritting (especially school bus routes) which she raises with officials every time they visit the council.

She protested by proxy at the monthly meeting, having briefed colleague Winston Fulton.

“She did say that she commended Roads Service for responding to a request to grit a road to enable a funeral to proceed,” said Cllr Fulton. “But she wants it noted that farmers have not been able to get feed to livestock,” he added.

“They have been at her door again today to ask what is being done about it.”

Cllr Fulton, who lives in the town, said: “We are suffering, but the people in the rural areas are suffering more than we are”

Alliance Coast Road representative Gerardine Mulvenna said she acknowledged that main routes were accorded priority, but she appealed to Roads Service to consider gritting minor routes in a bid to prevent accidents.