Domestic Snow Clearing

[Harbo]

I walked up to the Post Office this morning and was amazed to see how few people had bothered to clear any of the snow on their property!

My driveway is on a bit of a slope and I have kept it clear most of the time using a sweeping brush. This is to prevent it freezing and to clear a way to the house.
We have probably had a total of about 8" and some houses have it right up to their front doors - they have just left it!
The young man opposite parked his van at the exit end of his drive overnight and then spent 10 mins trying to drive over the footway part - he only had to clear 2m of it. But it is still there and he and his pregnant wife walk through the 8" every day to get out?
I could understand it if he was ill or injured, but he is half my age, very fit, a builder and has no trouble chopping up logs for their stove?

Grump over.

Rod

 

[Digit]

The advice being given at the moment Rod is that if you do any clearing, and it is less than perfect, you can lay yourself open to a liability claim, whereas if you do nothing you are cannot be liable!

Roy.

 

[flounder]

The advice being given at the moment Rod is that if you do any clearing, and it is less than perfect, you can lay yourself open to a liability claim, whereas if you do nothing you are cannot be liable!

Roy.

That is a sad indictment of the times in which we live!

 

[Digit]

Fraid so.

Roy.

 

[Paul Chapman]

The advice being given at the moment Rod is that if you do any clearing, and it is less than perfect, you can lay yourself open to a liability claim

I've often heard that said. Is it true :? Sounds pretty stupid to me. Do you know of examples where people have had cases brought against them?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Digit]

Personally, not at all Paul.

Roy.

 

[Shultzy]

Is it your civic duty to clear snow? Depends where you live.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8443745.stm

 

[Paul Chapman]

Is it your civic duty to clear snow?

Thanks for that link, Shultzy. Sounds like Rod can carry on clearing the snow without worrying

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[head clansman]

Hi

interesting piece

Is it your civic duty to clear snow? Depends where you live.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8443745.stm

just returned from holland plenty of the white stuff there , it,s the same there you are legally required to clear the snow from front door to the payment edge, and also the public payment outside of your property if it not and someone get injured the house occupier is liable , hmm some clear it, but most don't. My own thought on this is it's just as dangerous cleared.hc

 

[Digit]

Yes or no? Heads or tails?

In its guidance to members, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health warns that if people assume an area is clear and then slip and injure themselves, they could take legal action claiming damages.

And members of the public say they have been warned by councils about the legal risks.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0cJp8jqSL

Now we all know where we stand, or do we?

Roy.

 

[newt]

This issue of being sued for clearing snow is I believe a load of pineapples, if it is true we are as a nation completley stuffed. I will continue to clear snow if required.

 

[bugbear]

This issue of being sued for clearing snow is I believe a load of pineapples, if it is true we are as a nation completley stuffed. I will continue to clear snow if required.

The Times agrees with the BBC:

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l ... 205122.ece

BugBear

 

[Paul Chapman]

This issue of being sued for clearing snow is I believe a load of pineapples

Very well put, Pete

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Dibs-h]

I think most are part of that "can't be pineappled - someone else will do it" crowd. There's about 20-30 houses down the bottom of the road and if they all mucked in, going up and down would be a doddle.

Wheras several of us at the top where it is flat, clear a fair bit and grit it too. So for us setting off and stopping isn't an issue. I do laugh (quietly) at the rest when going down or coming up as they are on a slope and can't get going 9 times out of 10.

 

[Digit]

On a different subject, snow wise though, our Council is using just sand on top of fallen snow.
Works very well.

Roy.

 

[Smudger]

Yes or no? Heads or tails?

In its guidance to members, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health warns that if people assume an area is clear and then slip and injure themselves, they could take legal action claiming damages.

And members of the public say they have been warned by councils about the legal risks.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0cJp8jqSL

Now we all know where we stand, or do we?

Roy.

If the Daily Wail says it, then we certainly know what not to believe.

 

[Ironballs]

We get enough snow here to warrant special frequent visits from the ploughs, on the main road into the village there were 2 foot drifts this morning, the ploughs had tried but failed as 2 inconsiderate buttocks had tried to get in last night and abandoned their cars in the middle of the road. One of them had half bald tyres, had to resist the urge to boot the car into the verge. As a consequence the entire village is cut off and we can't go to work.

Closer to home I've been keeping our paths clear so we can get in and out okay and postie can make it through. Collectively me and a few other neighbours have been out clearing and gritting to keep our road clear - well, with one exception, but he's an buttocks as well

 

[Digit]

http://ventnorblog.com/2010/01/10/could ... our-house/

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... -sued.html

Roy.

 

[Stormsinger]

I think the general idea though is that if you (as in a general 'you' of the low IQ variety) can see there is white and slippery stuff in the way, then 'you' will take a bit more care about how you traverse the stuff and thus not break bone, whereas if we (as in the caring public who think pavements/paths should be kept clear of snow) clear a path, but don't keep it kept clear and ice free, then that 'you' if they don't see or expect that it might be icy, will be running along it with gay abandon as if there's been no white slippery stuff plummetting from the heavens during the last few weeks. At which point they go A over T and break a minimum of one bone and sue for not keeping the path free and clear of icy danger.

I actually think this is a viable arguement in this country mostly because we are (despite what people think) not used to this level of snow, and we have no recognised legal obligations in regards to it (such as everyone clearing their front path, winter tyres of vehicles, an ability to actually drive sensibly in snow/ice conditions. And with the habit of getting only too happy to sue people to squeeze as much money out of them as possible, then it's really only sensible to not leave yourself open to those who don't recognise that actually, they need to look where they're walking/running/driving in these conditions and instead look for the nearest 'no win no fee' specialist....

 

[wills-mill]

Ignore the salt and get sawdust and planer shavings on the pathways..... Excellent grip and it's pretty easy to sweep up after.