J-G
Established Member
My memory only retains 1947 & 1963
It never happens in Europe!
- Thread starter Agent_zed
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Agent_zed
Established Member
I can't remember seeing enough snow on the ground outside of a shop to make it worthwhile getting anyone to do anything about it. What snow I have seen turns to slush pretty quickly or is no issue to walk on.
Don't think I've ever seen any council operatives clearing snow from a pavement in my life, but perhaps it happens in bigger towns with more snow.
I was however quite suprised in Courchevel 1850 ski resort to find the pavements outside the shops were heated to prevent the rich people falling over whilst shopping for their 1000euro Swarovski crystal adorned ski helmets.
Distinterior
Established Member
About 15 years ago, we had a relatively light snowfall predicted in my area ( about 4 or 5 inches) by the weathermen. I live on a fairly steep hill and the road is a Cul de Sac, so doesn't normally get gritted by the local Council.
The problem is, coz it's a steepish hill, it only takes about an inch or two to fall and no one can get out of the road.
I decided to phone the local council office to see if they were going to grit my road. I was put through to some guy and I initially assumed it was the guy in charge of sending out the Gritting Lorries......I assumed wrong...! The guy I actually spoke to was in the Accounts Department.....He explained that the Council didnt have the budget to grit all the estate roads in the area, as they only did the main roads & Bus routes.
I then enquired as to where my nearest Grit Bin was, as I would then grit the road myself to aid in myself and my neighbours being able to get out of the road......He then said, I wasnt allowed to do that, coz if I did, and someone slipped up on the gritted road, I would be liable for any injury that befell them.......Surely, I said, if the Council dont grit the road, then any person that slipped on the un- gritted road, could then sue the Council......."No", he said,....." That would be an Act of God".......
......I kid you not!
The problem is, coz it's a steepish hill, it only takes about an inch or two to fall and no one can get out of the road.
I decided to phone the local council office to see if they were going to grit my road. I was put through to some guy and I initially assumed it was the guy in charge of sending out the Gritting Lorries......I assumed wrong...! The guy I actually spoke to was in the Accounts Department.....He explained that the Council didnt have the budget to grit all the estate roads in the area, as they only did the main roads & Bus routes.
I then enquired as to where my nearest Grit Bin was, as I would then grit the road myself to aid in myself and my neighbours being able to get out of the road......He then said, I wasnt allowed to do that, coz if I did, and someone slipped up on the gritted road, I would be liable for any injury that befell them.......Surely, I said, if the Council dont grit the road, then any person that slipped on the un- gritted road, could then sue the Council......."No", he said,....." That would be an Act of God".......
......I kid you not!Agent_zed
Established Member
About 15 years ago, we had a relatively light snowfall predicted in my area ( about 4 or 5 inches) by the weathermen. I live on a fairly steep hill and the road is a Cul de Sac, so doesn't normally get gritted by the local Council.
The problem is, coz it's a steepish hill, it only takes about an inch or two to fall and no one can get out of the road.
I decided to phone the local council office to see if they were going to grit my road. I was put through to some guy and I initially assumed it was the guy in charge of sending out the Gritting Lorries......I assumed wrong...! The guy I actually spoke to was in the Accounts Department.....He explained that the Council didnt have the budget to grit all the estate roads in the area, as they only did the main roads & Bus routes.
I then enquired as to where my nearest Grit Bin was, as I would then grit the road myself to aid in myself and my neighbours being able to get out of the road......He then said, I wasnt allowed to do that, coz if I did, and someone slipped up on the gritted road, I would be liable for any injury that befell them.......Surely, I said, if the Council dont grit the road, then any person that slipped on the un- gritted road, could then sue the Council......."No", he said,....." That would be an Act of God".......
Think they were covering their own behind rather than it being the actual rule. Otherwise it makes no sense in the council leaving grit bins around the place for no one to be allowed to use them.
This website says they are for public use on public roads/paths.
https://wheeliebinsolutions.co.uk/blogs/advice/everything-you-need-to-know-about-grit-bins-in-the-uk
I dread to think how upset we would all be if our tax money was spent on having the same level of snow plowing equipment as Sweden.
selectortone
Still waking up not dead in the morning
Yes, thank goodness we were able to support some very rich people in that difficult time
Terry - Somerset
Established Member
The UK is clearly inadequate in its provision for natural disasters.
We should of course plan for tsunamis the like of which hit Thailand in 2004, magnitude 9 earthquakes, tornados the equal of the US alley, wind gusts up to 150mph as recorded in the Cairngorms in 1986, rainfall of 300mm in any 24 hour period etc etc.
This will cost a bit - but it is worth being prepared. We may have to sacrifice a few public services and cut back on already stretched budgets - NHS, education, old age pensions ..........
Alternatively just accept that for most of the UK things will grind to a halt once or twice a decade for a day or two. Difficult choices!
We should of course plan for tsunamis the like of which hit Thailand in 2004, magnitude 9 earthquakes, tornados the equal of the US alley, wind gusts up to 150mph as recorded in the Cairngorms in 1986, rainfall of 300mm in any 24 hour period etc etc.
This will cost a bit - but it is worth being prepared. We may have to sacrifice a few public services and cut back on already stretched budgets - NHS, education, old age pensions ..........
Alternatively just accept that for most of the UK things will grind to a halt once or twice a decade for a day or two. Difficult choices!
When I was out today I took a photo of the road where I live. It is a single track gravel forestry road but of course the road surface makes no difference at this time of year. The road goes nowhere. It is 4km long and I live 3.2 km down it. You can tell from the photo that it is not a heavily-populated area but is regularly ploughed and I have never known the road to be impassable. Here it is:
artie
Sawdust manufacturer.
It was the same in this area, I think it was 82/83 we had an unusual amount of snow which hung around for longer than usual.
The council bought snowploughs and dished them out to people willy nilly so to be ready for the next big event.
We're still waiting.
During that period I drove <>100 miles round trip to work and back on ordinary tyres I just went a little slower.
artie
Sawdust manufacturer.
The Butcher I visited had not cleared the pavement in front of his shop, while the rest of the street had. I asked him why. He told me that if he clears it and someone falls he can be liable. If he leaves it alone God is liable.
Possibly true I don't know.
the great waldo
Established Member
Cabinetman
Established Member
Wow! Absolutely wonderful! Mind you I noticed how cold you said it was earlier, minus 26c? Crikey
Unfortunately the situation in the UK isn't as simple as people are told/like to think. Governments have spent decades laying the country open to shortages of food, energy, fuel etc with their short-term and short-sighted policies. Almost every aspect of life is subject to lack of security due to the laissez faire attitude of the rich/powerful when it comes to the rest of us. Ukraine has shown us that war in Europe isn't unthinkable, and "the world's policeman" hasn't been someone to rely on for generations.
When the chips are down, we have to rely on ourselves - and cries of "haven't got the budget" are simply unacceptable.
Well, not wishing to take sides here, but I've been driving for 50+ years and never felt unsafe on the roads in winter. I was too young for the only prolonged white winter in the Uk back in 63. Even the buses stopped, and I do remember in the 70s a short cold snap during which I had to follow a snow plough through some rural roads ot get to customers in need of help.
Superduner
Established Member
It is now law in France to have all season tyres (3PMSF’ (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake)) in certain hilly/mountainous areas . Failing that, you have to have chains or "snow socks" on the driven wheels at least. The area covered by this law is most of the eastern side of the country.
Austin Branson
Established Member
J-G
Established Member
You are too young to remember 1947 then - - - - it snowed in JUNE! and had been doing so since December '46
the great waldo
Established Member
I wonder if one would consider the recent batch of politicians as natural disasters??
Cheers
Andrew
Norman Boyes
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The UK would actually be much better advised to spend more resource on flood defences (both coastal and riverine) than more snow clearing equipment. Flooding is a far greater threat than snow from an economic perspective.
i have lived in my property for 24 years and snow is a rarity here, the majority of those years absolutely zero snow, never ever been ‘snowed in’ and only once (for one day) when my car could not traverse the hill to get out of our neighbourhood.
