Yesterday, I had to get to Cardigan Magistrates Court for 9.30am and set off early, to take the alternative route via Fishguard and Newport, as the B road over the Preselis was closed, and still is, as I write this.

Afterwards, I went to Aberporth and then to Carmarthen, down B roads and the A road via Cynywl Elfed. The roads were clear by and large, as long as you took some care and there were signs that roads had been blocked, judging by the size of drifts at the sides of the road and there were still some abandoned cars on the road.

In Carmarthen itself, the Council had shovelled tons (I presume) of small sharp grit on the pavements.

I have seen the photos posted on the WT website from Council Leader John Davies and saw him on the BBC Wales news, where he had been helping stranded cars through the snow.

I am not criticising the Council, unlike many in the press and on the WT website, despite being forced to work at home as I didn't feel it was safe enough to venture on the roads, unless absolutely necessary.

I would ask the following questions:- 1. Not long ago, we were advised Pembrokeshire has sufficient supplies of salt and grit. The next thing, we are told Pembrokeshire was getting emergency deliveries. As side roads and pavements were not being dealt with, why did the supplies run down so quickly, as presumably PCC did not have enough salt and grit in reserve.

2. Will the Council be looking at how they dealt with the problems, compared to (say) Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, and what lessons can be learned in future, to make it safer to travel?

3. As we have not yet rached the usal time of winter when we normally get snow and bad winter weather, what actions are being taken to build up salt and grit reserves as we could still face severe winter weather in the rest of January through to March? All Councils will presumably be wanting to rebuild their supply, which may be difficult for the suppliers to meet. Also, I trust action will be taken as a priority to deal with all the potholes and other damage done to the road surface. I have noticed quite a few have appeared, since the severe weather commenced in mid-December.

Finally, I would like to thank all the Council workers, especially the gritters, working 24/7, to grit the roads. Also, other Council staff and councillors, the postmen and women and others who had to work in the severe weather.

All I want to know is what can be learnt who make things easier, the next time we get snow. The answer of course maybe that Pembrokeshire did it better than other Councils and they look to us. Its not a time to be defensive in what happened, but for the Council to admit what it could do better in future and what it will actually do.