Fife Council has been criticised for a lack of effort in getting communities moving.
Villagers in West Wemyss were incensed as they strived to dig themselves out of the isolated village – with volunteers spending several hours trying to make inroads into huge drifts.
The main road out of the village was completely blocked and, with many villagers effectively stranded, a group of around 20 locals grabbed whatever they could to try and clear the way.
Some used makeshift shovels made from wooden planks and boards as they battled for around nine hours before a Scottish Power JCB did the job.
Local man John Laing filmed the rescue effort and was disappointed that Fife Council had not even attempted to clear the half mile-long route in and out of the village.
“There are a lot of older people with medical issues who are running out of supplies,” he said.
“We had to do something.
“It’s insulting to whole of West Wemyss and the guys that have broke their backs since 9am carrying out Fife Council’s work.
“I am very aware this is adverse conditions but this has been three to four days, 300 people, and no way of getting out.
“Where on earth is Fife Council? We don’t even have grit bins.
“After a team effort from the West Wemyss villagers and Scottish Power the very least they could do is send a gritter. The road will freeze and we still won’t get out.”
Elsewhere, William Moffat, 68, from Blairhall, is concerned the small west Fife village is completely cut off, and no supplies of staples like milk and bread are being delivered to the local shops.
“We cannot get out the village at all,” he said.
“A lot of older or disabled people stay in the village and I just think Fife Council could do a bit more and clear at least some of the roads.
“We do not get anything out here.
“It is atrocious, I know we have not had this weather for a long time but I think the council could do a bit better.”
Gordon Watson, 69, also thought the local authority could do more.
He lives with wife Catherine, 63, in the Longbraes area of Kirkcaldy.
But his wife, a home carer, could not get to work for two days as the roads were impassable, there had be no gritters or snow ploughs and local grit bins were empty.
“I’d like to see the council doing a bit more.
“If they’d come with gritters this would have probably been clear by now.”
In response, Fife Council said during exceptionally severe weather it will treat designated snow routes as a first priority.
Derek Crowe, senior manager, said:”We’ve had lots of questions about specific local road conditions and when we’ll be gritting particular streets.
“Sorry we’re not able to answer all of these individually – here’s what we’ve been dealing with: Road conditions are still poor and the snow routes have been priority again today. The majority of these snow routes are currently passable with care, apart from those listed on our emergency road closures page on Fife Direct www.fifedirect.org.uk/closures.
“We’re really doing our best but Fife is a huge place and it’s going to take time to clear all this snow.
“Please be assured that crews have been working round the clock continuously treating snow routes, which make up 34% of Fife’s road network, and responding to various calls to assist emergency services.
“Persistent and driving snow means that many rural roads are still badly affected by drifting with several still closed. At these locations we are using JCBs and loading shovels to clear the snow from the road but many are being recovered with drifts.
“Only once the snow routes then priority one routes are fully open will we be able to move on to lower priority roads, residential streets and grit bin refilling.
“Footway clearing is ongoing too with a squad of over 200 drawn from a number of services all across the council.
“We have around 2,500km of roads and 2,900km of pavements to content with.”
