'We've got it handled' - roads team in Dumfries and Galloway prepared for winter

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Roads chiefs at Dumfries and Galloway Council are adamant that they will find the necessary additional manpower to handle a harsh winter over the next two years.

The local authority is intending on spending £800,000 to recruit 10 more temporary roads operatives until March 2024, and the first job offers are being made this week.

Another round of advertising and interviews are being lined up to ensure that all 10 posts are filled – which was a concern for Annandale North Councillor Gail Macgregor.

Speaking at the council’s communities committee on Tuesday, she said: “How confident are we that we’ll be able to recruit? I’m aware that we have a regional lack of skills in certain areas, and would just like some confidence that we will be able to get staff into those roles. “Do we have capacity within the region to utilise that £800,000 effectively, particularly given that they are temporary posts?” Council officer Stephen Hall replied: “We’re in the process, in the next couple of days, of giving initial offers to a number of candidates. “We did get more applications than there are posts.