Community spirit triumphs over the snow on Anglesey

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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COMMUNITY spirit showed itself to be "alive and well" on Anglesey this Christmas, as workers were commended for going "above and beyond the call of duty" amid wintry conditions.

However, disruption continued on the island as roads, services and business was affected by the snow and ice.

Albert Owen MP praised the "true spirit" shown by the people of Anglesey in adverse weather conditions.

"In particular, I pay tribute to the carers, emergency services and volunteers who have gone out of their way to help others," he said.

"Our public service workers have battled to keep our services going at what is always a busy and demanding time, and with the extra burden of the adverse weather their task was made all the more difficult.

"I’ve heard stories today of people in rural communities helping out postmen by offering their 4x4 vehicles to get them around the villages and down rural roads safely.

"Their efforts really do show we live in a decent society with decent people holding decent values, and that Anglesey is a big community with a big heart.

"It’s very uplifting to hear that community spirit is alive and well on the island."

The town hall in Beaumaris was used as an impromptu sorting office by postal staff struggling to make it through the difficult conditions.

Council staff went "above and beyond the call of duty" in delivering services, said a county council spokesperson.

"Anglesey home care staff spent a number of nights sleeping at the homes in order to ensure care continued," he said.

"Staff at Plas Crigyll in Bryngwran, Haulfre in Llangoed, Garreglwyd in Holyhead and Plas Mona in Llanfair have all been commended."

The county council’s building maintenance unit responded to hundreds of emergency calls to attend to gas heating breakdowns, said a spokesperson.

In Beaumaris, there were complaints that the weather had affected business in the town.

Jo Williams of Unique Kids said: "It’s terrible: there’s nobody on the streets, and the whole town’s been complaining.

"We haven’t seen the footfall we would usually expect in what should be our busiest week.

"I’ve noticed that people have been tightening their belts this season, but the weather’s made it doubly bad and has added insult to injury."

Mayor Stan Zalot said: "The detrimental effect on the economy in Beaumaris is ridiculous."

Businesses in the town had lost "silly amounts of money" due to the wintry conditions, he said.

"People can’t walk on the pavements," said Cllr Zalot.

"The number of complaints I’ve had about the state of the roads is unprecedented.

"People have had to walk from Llangoed and Llanddona to Beaumaris for their shopping, because they can’t get through on the roads.

"We’ve ground to a halt."

A county council spokesperson said: "Our gritting teams have been working around the clock under very testing circumstances.

"Beaumaris has been given exactly the same priority as other large towns on Anglesey."

The council received more than 300 tonnes of grit last week following concerns about depleting levels, but would seek more to cope with the conditions, said a spokesperson.

Refuse collection continued to be affected, leading to backlogs in parts of the island.

"The county council is working closely with its waste collection contractors and the Highways Service to ensure that collections can be made as soon as possible," said a spokesperson.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience and thank residents for their continued patience."

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

"I’ve heard stories today of people in rural communities helping out postmen by offering their 4x4 vehicles to get them around the villages and down rural roads safely."

I'm feeling particularly "bah humbug" today, so I feel the need to question whether the postie sorted out the special insurance to deliver mail via the 4x4 and got written authorisation from depot managers to deviate from protocol? I suspect not and that's all well and good if nothing went "wrong," but the postie would be the scapegoat if anything happened to anybody's letters or parcels...

[Thunderthighs]

As a former Llangoed resident, great story overall.

But, don't forget, most "locals" play the banjo and shout "Squeal like a pig, Boy!!!"
( Only joking, but this is where the expression "Two heads are better than one," and that's just one person! )