3 HOURS 45 MINS FROM WESTWOOD TO CLIFTONVILLE

3 HOURS 45 MINS FROM WESTWOOD TO CLIFTONVILLE

(OR WHY SOME GANGS OF YOUTHS IN THANET ARE REALLY GOOD)

KCC LET US DOWN BUT RESIDENTS ARE FANTASTIC

Please find below the timeline for our return home to Cliftonville from Westwood Cross on Saturday 18th December.

3pm precisely - My wife Sandy and I got into our car in the middle of the Westwood Cross car park.

3.45pm - Got to the exit roundabout next to Marks & Spencer's.

4pm - Sat at main Westwood roundabout - virtual gridlock.

4.45pm - Sat at traffic lights between Hornby and B&Q.

4.50pm - Literally slid down Chapel Hill and finally came to rest outside the Orb public house.

5pm - Sat at traffic lights outside QEQM hospital.

5.10pm - Sat at Victoria traffic lights. Now snowing again on top of ice.

5.15pm - Spent half an hour sliding all over the place on the first steep hill in College road. At one point a double decked bus slid down the ice covered road outside the vets towards us. We were only able to progress due to a fantastically selfless gang of (mainly) youths who helped us and many others over and over, by pushing us repeatedly in blizzard conditions. We would have parked up at this point but road was completely littered with abandoned cars leaving no safe spaces to park in.

5.40pm - Some dodgy moments at double roundabout at College road and St Peters road.

5.45 - Slid down second steep hill of College road towards the King Edward cross roads.

5.50pm - Saw cars ahead sliding all over the hill ahead in Millmead Road so decided to park up outside King Edward and walk.

6pm - Started walking towards Millmead and saw a long pink stretch-limo actually make it all the way up Millmead road so went back to our car and tried again.

6.15m - Came to absolute standstill in Millmead road on ice at both the junctions with Fitzroy Avenue and Laleham Road. Only able to progress due to another fantastic selfless 'gang' who helped us and many others over and over, by pushing us repeatedly.

6.35pm - Finally got to top of the hill in Millmead road.

6.40pm - Glided home along Millmead road and down Foreland Avenue with only one minor risky moment when a pedestrian stepped out near the Wheatsheaf public house and we couldn't stop.

6.45PM precisely - Arrived home at Clarence Avenue Cliftonville and put the kettle on.

Comment: absolutely none of the roads we used appeared to be gritted at all. The two 'gangs' of men who helped us in both College Road and Millmead Road were simply fantastic - they were working in the most hazardous and freezing of conditions and they have restored my faith in human nature. I'm sure I speak for many they helped on Saturday when I say a massive thank you for all their help.

Clive