May I through the pages of your paper, thank all farming staff throughout South Holland who turned out in very inclement snowy conditions on Thursday and Friday to help keep South Holland roads clear.
Conditions were very challenging and strong winds meant that snow was continually being blown back onto roads throughout operations but all I spoke to were happy to continue to carry on until they could do no more.
The farming community undertook this work not because they wanted plaudits but simply because they knew it was the right thing to do; in most cases no one asked them to do this and in the vast majority of cases no one was paid.
Police and emergency services depend upon roads being clear in order that they can respond to emergencies and we all simply wanted to try and ensure that people did not end up being trapped in their vehicles as happened elsewhere in the UK; in many cases road closures were caused by one vehicle blocking the road preventing others from passing them.
Credit must be given to many motorists caught on the roads during Thursday evening who were very patient and tolerant particularly when a menacing loader bucket is deployed within a few feet of their vehicles! Some however need to check that their journeys really were necessary and also to be more aware of the capabilities of their vehicles in snowy and icy conditions.
Farmers tend to receive a pretty negative press from some sections of the public at times and what they did for us all on Thursday and Friday surely demonstrates that all of us are part of the same community and it is right that we all attempt to help each other at difficult times.
Well done to all.
Chris Carter
Chairman NFU South Holland Branch
