How do I complain to council about roads not being cleared and being left stranded

[Teddybear154]

I don't know if have posted this in right pace but hope some one can help me.

 

On Wednesday I had to take my children for various hospital appointments.

 

I don't drive so had to get a taxi and train.

 

When I left home the weather was ok.

 

When we got to train station it had started to snow but very lightly.

 

We went to hospital appointment and then caught the train back.

 

We were planning on catching the bus home from the station.

 

But when we got to station we discovered the snow had become very heavy and was very thick.

 

There was so much snow on the roads and the council had failed to clear any of the roads.

 

The bus run by council to where we live had been cancelled, and no taxi would drive us as the roads were so dangerous.

 

We were left stranded in the snow 13 miles from home, my self my husband and are 4 young children including are youngest who's only 1 year old.

 

There were no b& bs around that we could check in to.

 

We had to walk 5 miles with are children down a dangerous road in the freezing cold heavy snow.

 

Eventually some one with a 4x4 took pity on us and offered to drive us the rest of the way home.

 

It took a long time as the roads were so full of snow but he managed to drive us home.

 

My children have been left very upset and traumatised by the whole ordeal.

 

Do I have grounds to complain to council and if so who do I need to make complaint to.

 

Any advice much appreciated

 

Thanks in advance

 

Ps. I should mention this s not the first time the council have not cleared or properly gritted the roads. They never properly grit or clear the road. Most people in the villages around where I live are getting fed up with it.

[dx100uk]

i sadly doubt there is much you can do.

 

there is no law that in exceptional conditions

which are alerted by the met office

council HAVE to bother fighting a losing battle.

 

you could try the Highways agency for pointers

 

but once [and sadly] don't travel out warnings are given

if they happen after you set off

there little anyone can do.

 

for future ref

 

it might well be an idea call the police in simular situations

you and you family were clearly in a vunerable and dangerous situation.

 

there are organisations like Rover Rescue

or

simular groups that the emergency services call upon in such conditions

 

having been involved in such

and seeing our use by them mirrors your exact situation

 

that might have been the answer

 

hindsight is a lovely thing!

 

dx

[Teddybear154]

I can understand what your saying but why do we bother paying are council tax when the council can not do there job properly.

 

It is the councils responsibility to clear the roads it is part of what we pay are council tax for.

 

The roads where I live are second priority and are a major bus route.

 

They state that secondary primary roads are to be cleared with in 5 hours.

 

If they had done their job properly and had cleared the roads, then the bus would not have been cancelled or we coud have got a taxi and would not have been left stranded.

 

3 police cars on patrol drove passed us but none of them stopped.

 

We did not think about phoning the police as we thought we would be wasting police time.

 

I've never heard of rover rescue. When we left home there were no weather warning if there had been we would not have gone.

 

It was not like we just went out shopping for fun.

 

we had to go for serious medical appointments and my youngest son needed medical treatment.

[dx100uk]

in these weather situations the 'we pay our council tax etc' really don't fit.

 

councils and highways have only a finite amount of resources.

 

its a bit like the grit scenario of the winter before last.

they all ran out..

 

what do they do?

 

spend £1000's stockpiling grit, then as what happened, get stung and critisised for wasting the money?

 

as i pointed out, there were poss no weather warning to heed of

although the week was very littered with them,

but you had no choice, but to attend.

 

i can assure you no police force would ever think you were wating their time

if you had of phoned

thats what these organisations are there for.

 

it prob points to how bad the weather was if the buses stopped

they usually dont take those decisions on a whim.

 

and prob were told for safety to do so.

 

as were the taxis

dx

[theuprightman]

What exactly do you want the council to do? Chuck grit about that doesn't work below certain temps?

[Consumer dude]

I can understand what your saying but why do we bother paying are council tax when the council can not do there job properly.

 

It is the councils responsibility to clear the roads it is part of what we pay are council tax for.

 

The roads where I live are second priority and are a major bus route.

 

They state that secondary primary roads are to be cleared with in 5 hours.

 

If they had done their job properly and had cleared the roads, then the bus would not have been cancelled or we coud have got a taxi and would not have been left stranded.

 

3 police cars on patrol drove passed us but none of them stopped.

 

We did not think about phoning the police as we thought we would be wasting police time.

 

I've never heard of rover rescue. When we left home there were no weather warning if there had been we would not have gone.

 

It was not like we just went out shopping for fun.

 

we had to go for serious medical appointments and my youngest son needed medical treatment.

 

I really do feel for you and your family. this is so shocking and an indication of our selfish society. The fact that three patrol cars drove by truly beggars belief. I would be complaining about this regardless but no doubt excuses will be given..

Edited February 16, 2013 by Consumer dude

[assisted blonde]

Things happen bad weather comes in,

sometimes suddenly,

not every road can be cleared,

 

although I do feel sorry for you there is a finite ammount that the council can do in a certain amount of time and they have to prioritise.

 

I really dont think that there is anything you can do about this but just accept it as one of those things,

 

annoying yes but you did get home,

 

the snow has now cleared, and everything is back to normal

[Consumer dude]

I guess at the end of the day even if you were to complain, nothing will happen but I would still attempt at getting an explanation as to why more consideraton was not given to keeping a bus route clear. The patrol cars just passing by without stopping was quite shameful in my opinion..