SIXTY per cent of the delegates to an emergency planning conference in Leeds on Tuesday failed to turn up – because of an emergency. Unlike many less hardy souls, representatives from Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Councils man

SIXTY per cent of the delegates to an emergency planning conference in Leeds on Tuesday failed to turn up - because of an emergency.

Unlike many less hardy souls, representatives from Huntingdonshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Councils managed to make the venue - and even arrived early at the Local Government Association conference because the trains were running better than expected.

HDC cabinet member Councillor Colin Hyams told The Hunts Post: "I caught 6.35 am from Huntingdon, changing at Peterborough, and had a perfect journey despite the snow and ice and the temperature of minus 4C.

"However, bearing in mind the title of the conference, it was hilarious that 60 per cent of the delegates could not get there because of the snow. Nor could the Government Office representatives.

"Representatives from CCC and HDC are prepared for emergency planning - shame about the rest of the country."

Even though many delegates had wimped out, on had travelled from West Sussex, one of the areas worst hit by the snows earlier in the week.

Cllr Hyams said the event was really valuable, in spite of its 'death by Powerpoint' character, including presentations on dealing with a 'flu pandemic and recovery from catastrophic flooding.