Farmers and contractors hailed 'heroic' during 'major incident' snowfall

Farmers and contractors across the North East have been praised for their “heroic” efforts in helping communities during unprecedented levels of snowfall.

Hundreds of schools remain closed and homes have been cut off as Aberdeenshire Council declared a major incident over the extreme weather this week.

Officials said a prolonged period of significant impact to services was likely given the ongoing yellow and amber weather warnings for snow and ice.

Read more: Council declares 'major incident' as Scotland hit by heavy snow

Farmers, meanwhile, have been out in force, clearing main roads including the A90 north of Ellon, the A952 to Mintlaw and the A947/B9170 to Inverurie - among others - to assist motorists in the wintry conditions.

Harriet Cross, Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, said more than 100 farmers and contractors had been out rescuing drivers, clearing roads and helping to transport supplies during the “worst snow showers in recent memory”.

Ms Cross’s constituency is one of the worst affected areas in Scotland as well as Huntly, Inverurie, Ellon, Oldmeldrum and Turriff.

Some of the more rural areas have been cut off from services due to the heavy snowfall | Supplied

Several farmers also cleared snow at two care homes in Ellon - Ythanvale and Auchtercrag House - to allow staff to get to work.

In Udny, farmer William Robertson helped to clear the B9000 amid concerns that carers couldn’t access residents in the village.

Ms Cross said: “Our heroic farmers have gone above and beyond to help stranded travellers to navigate through the treacherous conditions.

“Their work has been courageous in the face of extremely dangerous snow storms and I can’t praise them enough.

“Not only have they been out rescuing drivers and clearing roads, but our farmers have also been working round the clock caring for their own livestock as they battle against some of the worst snow fall in recent memory.

“A huge thank you must also go to numerous council workers, carers, emergency services and neighbours who have rallied together to keep communities functioning during these challenging conditions.

“Our rural communities always come together in difficult times like this and I’m extremely grateful to all those who helped during these heavy snow showers.”

First Minister John Swinney also praised the farming community and others in rural Scotland who helped to clear routes and assist the authorities

"I pay the warmest tribute to everybody who has made that contribution,” Mr Swinney said.

Andrew Bowie, Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, also praised efforts of members of the public as council services were stretched across the region.

“In addition to Aberdeenshire Council resources being deployed, well over 100 local contractors are also at work across the ‘shire- most of them farmers, clearing snow and ensuring essential services are accessible,” he said.

“Huge thanks to them all for this incredible effort.

“Moving forward, I’m assured the Council is in conversation about where additional resource can be brought, including in the form of mutual aid from local authorities not affected by the weather to the same extent.”

This week, Mr Bowie wrote to the First Minister calling for military assistance to be considered to help remote communities and the elderly and vulnerable during the prolonged period of heavy snowfall.

Councillor Geva Blackett, from Braemar, said residents were pulling out all the stops.

“The Council are doing everything they can to keep Aberdeenshire moving but even with all the resources available, the wind has been blowing the snow back making it an impossible task,” she said.

“Communities are doing what rural communities do best: looking out for their own! They have been ensuring the elderly have heat and food, they have cleared paths and helped get people to medical appointments where possible and of course not forgetting farmers and gamekeepers who are out in all weather and all hours helping people out of ditches and clearing roads and paths.”