Council staff help Lord Mayor Frank McBrearty launch the new winter weather website
Donegal County Council is ready for winter it announced as it launched its new winter weather website www.donegalcocowinterweather.ie
A council spokesman revealed they now have 7,500 tonnes of salt locked away at locations across the county for the council’s fleet of 21 gritters and snowploughs which will be manned by up to 80 staff.
Launching the ambitious new website, executive engineer Brian Burke said it was the first step to keeping the public informed of weather patterns and how to cope with them.
However he stressed the responsibility of interacting with the weather including driving was ultimately with the public.
At the launch of the winter weather programme for Donegal County Council
“This is a major step forward in helping the public to interact with Donegal County Council when it comes to weather issue.
“Donegal is a diverse county and this website will hopefully keep all sections of the public up to date with how the council is reacting to changing weather patterns,” he said.
As well as full information on road and driving conditions, locations and availability of salt and grit, the council has gone completely interactive.
Live cameras have also been set up at weather stations in Killygordon, Bundoran, Gaoth Dobhair, An Grianan and Lough Mourne (the Gap).
“We have also linked into live camera station on the Glenshane Pass and the Foyle Bridge for people using those routes travelling to Belfast or to airports in Northern Ireland as many do,” said Brian Burke.
Lord Mayor Frank McBrearty welcomed the new website and said it was a major step forward for the council in keeping up with the trends of social media.
The council also hopes to continue using the website outside of the winters months to highlight flooding, roadworks and other areas which may obstruct the public.
“It is very early days and the one thing we want form the public is feedback. If they feel we can add something, then we will listen.
“The website is for the public’s use and the more feedback we get, then the greater tool it can become,” added Mr Burke.
John McLaughlin, Diretor of Roads and Transportation with DCC welcomed the new website also.
“It provides important information for al road users and local and national media outlets and I would encourage people to follow us on @roadsDCC or @donegalcouncil or on the council’s Facebook page,” he said.
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