Newbury is likely to be snowed in tomorrow unless more road-salt is delivered, after West Berkshire Council announced salt stocks have reached critically low levels.
The district’s 1200 tonne stock of salt has nearly all been used, with barely 100 tonnes left – enough to grit West Berkshire’s A and B roads just twice more – far below the council’s minimum of 500 tonnes.
And with up to 15cms of snow due tonight, and the big freeze due to last another week, further supplies of salt requested by the council will have to be approved by the Government, which is deciding which areas to prioritise.
Local salt bins will not be refilled unless the district is resupplied, and with all major local retailers – such as B&Q, Travis Perkins and Jewson – out of stock until the end of January, town residents have already been filling up bags and boxes from salt bins.
Council sources told newbury.net that, around 56% of local roads are salted, but this has now been reduced to 26% until further notice, leaving roads such as Speen Lane and the side-roads on the Andover Road untreated.
Newbury is likely to be snowed in tomorrow unless more road-salt is delivered, after West Berkshire Council announced salt stocks have reached critically low levels.
Still doesn't explain wht WBC ballsed up again though User 23!!
That's a bit harsh. it's a once in 20 year event, possibly once a century. Let's just enjoy it.
Now, when the downland villages flood in the thaw next month (it's due this year), that's when I expect WBC to be on the ball, as it's a once every 7-8 yr event, and we know exactly where and when. No excuses.
So after last years failure to plan they have fecked up again!!
What's your view on those drivers who, despite all the weather warnings and requests from AA/emergency services not to drive unless absolutely necessary, STILL jump in their cars with a quarter of a tank, threadbare tyres, no warm clothing and nothing to help themselves with if their car becomes stuck on ice? Surely THEY'VE fecked up .....or at least should be considered a danger and a liability on the roads. Some people just refuse to take responsibility for their own failings.
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" is one motto, but you have to be realistic and appreciate that if you prepare for EVERY eventuality it comes at a cost that many are not prepared to sign up to. Ain't hindsight a wonderful superpower to have?
What's your view on those drivers who, despite all the weather warnings and requests from AA/emergency services not to drive unless absolutely necessary, STILL jump in their cars with a quarter of a tank, threadbare tyres, no warm clothing and nothing to help themselves with if their car becomes stuck on ice? Surely THEY'VE fecked up .....or at least should be considered a danger and a liability on the roads. Some people just refuse to take responsibility for their own failings.
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" is one motto, but you have to be realistic and appreciate that if you prepare for EVERY eventuality it comes at a cost that many are not prepared to sign up to. Ain't hindsight a wonderful superpower to have?
I agree they are idiots too - perhaps WBC will find them a job!!
Seems to me that it's the private sector that's falling down on the job here - councils all over the country are crying out for more salt and have the equipment and staff needed to spread it but the suppliers are unable to deliver. They, of all people, should be geared up to meet the demand.
Neither are the rock salt suppliers able to meet the demand from B&Q, Homebase and the rest - I tried to buy some at the end of last week. Perhaps they took the whole 10 days of Christmas off, like many private firms. Pathetic. Next thing you'll know we'll be running out of gas.
A problem we have is that we have so many severe weather warnings that don't seemingly deserve it, when it does, we come to grief.
Really? When you say 'severe weather warnings', which level of warning are you talking about?
I don't recall many actual 'take action' warnings of the kind we have right now - http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/se_forecast_warnings.html Sometimes a 'be aware' or 'be prepared' doesn't escalate to a 'take action' (there must be some stats on that somewhere) but as you'll appreciate if you track the progress of the snow on the weather radar, it can be very difficult to know exactly where it will fall particularly with a fragmented system like this.
Well, nothing much is going to happen today roadwise, let's all stay at home and send loads of postings to the forum about the council not gritting/salting. I think that today they might need snow ploughs especially if a bit of wind whips up. Somehow, I doubt if gritting would work today anyway unless we get a melt later this morning.
That's a bit harsh. it's a once in 20 year event, possibly once a century. Let's just enjoy it.
Now, when the downland villages flood in the thaw next month (it's due this year), that's when I expect WBC to be on the ball, as it's a once every 7-8 yr event, and we know exactly where and when. No excuses.
They wont flood this year - my well is still practically dry, by now it should be 1 or 2 m from the top...
The problem in the downs is rarely flash flooding - but ground water levels rising to the point the rivers like the Pang start to flow. However 6 or 7 years ago when it happened it was the first time for years the Pang had flowed properly from West Ilsley onwards (normally only flows from Hampstead Norreys). At loads of places in Compton and East Ilsley it was partly blocked - so the water could'nt flow away properly, this should have all been sorted now though...
Let's hope that if we don't get a thaw that the council don't shovel snow into lorries and dump it on Northcroft as they did in 1947. Now that was flooding on a fairly industrial scale as far as Newbury was concerned when the melt came.
97.2% OF ALL THE EARTH"S WATER IS SALTWATER....There is enough salt in the world"s ocean to cover all the continents with a layer 150 meters [492ft] thick.......but it IS bad for your health!!
Seems to me that it's the private sector that's falling down on the job here - councils all over the country are crying out for more salt and have the equipment and staff needed to spread it but the suppliers are unable to deliver. They, of all people, should be geared up to meet the demand.
You may be right, but equally, according to the AA, councils have been ordering less and less (250,000 tonnes less over the last 10 years), so it looks like the supplier was just reducing output according to the market.
The funny thing is, when they get sued for failing their statutory duty to clear the snow, WBC will have to pay out much more than the cost of keeping a huge mountain of salt.
The funny thing is, when they get sued for failing their statutory duty to clear the snow, WBC will have to pay out much more than the cost of keeping a huge mountain of salt.
They won't be sued - you should have read further: 111 Highways: snow and ice .After section 41(1) of the Highways Act 1980 (c. 66) (duty of highway authority to maintain highway) insert— “(1A) In particular, a highway authority are under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.”
It would be difficult to find a court that did not agree that WBC had done its duty inder this act "so far as is reasonably practicable".
General purpose post: (just to save eveyone's time) (try not to yawn and drop off)
Why oh why does everything stop in this country as soon as it snows?
Why oh why haven't the council gritted my / road / pavement / driveway?
Why oh why didn't the council order enough salt / grit / whatever?
Why oh why are some companies making no-show employees take the days off as annual leave?
Why oh why have we lost all sense of reason and common sense?
Why oh why can't people clear their own road / pavement / driveway without fear of being sued?
Why oh why did a local councillor write to tell them that they couldn't? (1)
Why oh why does does a local councillor now tell them it shows community spirit to clear their road / pavement / driveway, and that they should? (2)
Why oh why does a councillor now write to tell them he can't give out any advice regarding the clearing of their road / pavement / driveway? (3)
Why oh why can't the Lib-Dems get anyone better than this balloon-headed idjit to get on the council?
Seriously though, if you have had terrible road conditions / the journey from hell to and from work / no help from the council / delayed services / sightings of people doing silly things on the road whilst driving / instances of heroic or crazy behaviour, please keep it to yourself......'cos I'm soddin' sick of hearing about it...
Threep.
(1)(2)(3)( the same councillor in all three cases)
You forgot about Cllr Rendel asking gas guzzling 4x4 owners to help people who are snowed in. Which they won't of course, even though it is their fault why we have this weather!
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