In our ongoing A Day in My Life series, Ian Williams gives us an insight into life as a technical assistant for Ceredigion County Council.

I HAVE lived in the Pont-rhyd-y-groes area for over 30 years with my wife and three daughters and recently became a grandfather too.

I take joy in being able to support and be part of the local community and am involved in a number of voluntary organisations.

I began my career with Ceredigion County Council back in 1989 when it was Dyfed County Council, working as a road worker within a team carrying out basic maintenance work in and around north Ceredigion.

My job within the council is very varied. From February to September I am involved in setting up the Surface Dressing programme which is a county-wide programme of surfacing works. I also oversee parts of the winter maintenance service.

People often have the perception that winter maintenance begins when the weather turns colder; however this is not the case. There is some involvement with the winter maintenance programme throughout the course of the year.

Usually, we start planning and preparing for the oncoming winter in May, just a few weeks after the previous winter season has come to an end.

At this time of year we carry out some maintenance work on our two salt barns, based at the Glanyrafon depot in Aberystwyth and Penrhos depot in Llandysul. This is when the salt stock levels are at their lowest which makes access to the barns easier, if repairs are required.

The salt from the Penrhos barn is used on roads to the south of the county, from Tregaron down to Cardigan whilst the salt at the Glanyrafon depot is used on roads north of the county, from Llangurig and Machynlleth down to Tregaron.

Read the full feature in this week’s south papers, available in shops and as a digital edition now