THOSE IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS LEFT STRANDED- McINNES (Alison McInnes)

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

THOSE IN RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS LEFT STRANDED- McINNES

January 7, 2010 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesman Alison McInnes MSP says that people in rural and remote communities have been left stranded and vulnerable by the harsh weather conditions.

Commenting after a Ministerial statement in the Scottish Parliament McInnes said:

"Gritters and road clearing teams have been out at all hours and in all conditions to clear the main routes up and down Scotland. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. It is thanks to them that the country has been able to get back to a semblance of normality over the last couple of days.

"However, those in rural and remote communities are still in atrocious conditions. Their roads have not been gritted.

"Worryingly, many are cut off from vital services such as home carers and prescription deliveries.

"Thousands of rural people are off the gas grid but cannot access heating fuel such as LPG, coal or oil.

"The Scottish Government and local authorities must do all they can to grit roads throughout the country. Rural people need vital services and rural Scotland needs to get moving again."