Gritter breakdowns hinder council’s efforts to make roads safer
Adam Guest
Three gritters broke down this morning causing a delay in Shetland Islands Council’s efforts to combat the worst effects of the first ice and snow of the winter.
Roads network engineer Neil Robertson said two vehicles had halted up north and another out west, although he was unable to state their exact location.
Commuters faced a tailback at Wormadale this morning and two drivers ended up in ditches further along the A971.
A silver works van left the road near Tresta and an estate car had come off the road near the Weisdale brae due to the wintery conditions.
An accident involving one car blocked the road near the West Yell cemetery for a while on Tuesday morning . Police were called to the incident at 6.16am together with an ambulance. The one occupant of the car was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital but is not believed to be badly injured.
Meanwhile Serco Northlink is considering bypassing its stop at Kirkwall tomorrow evening due to a bad weather forecast. The boat would instead sail direct from Lerwick to Aberdeen. A decision on the route is expected to be made at 10am.
According to the Met Office sunny intervals and scattered showers are forecast for Orkney and Shetland tomorrow with occasional heavy wintery showers. Gales or severe gales are predicted to develop later.
Donnie Morrison
I have been a Weisdale resident all my life and thought I was well aquainted with the local area but could someone please tell me where the Weisdale brae is?
Stuart Terris
You would have thought the gritters would have been checked and prepared? They’ve had plenty of warning that this was coming.
Hope the 2 drivers are safe and unharmed.
Leanne robertson
Dir wis da van on a corner on da tresta hill den a car just before da noresmans corner den da abandoned car at da westings.
fraser cluness
It’s not that long ago the roads department were so chuffed they had cut so much of their budget, today we seen the reasons and where they have cut it from. Hope they all got into their work on time today. It’s just not good enough to cut the ground force.