I'm assuming councils will set their budgets based on normal expectations for adverse weather but now that we've probably exceeded that norm, who's paying for all the extra grit and other weather related services? Does it still come out of the councils budget or does the government step in to fund it?
Just wondering if it gets to a point where the council don't have to pay and they can then get their fingers out and clear all the streets they haven't touched which judging by where I live and work, it's about 99% of all the streets!
Unless anyone from Highways comes along and correct me then my understanding is that it all comes from the council's budget. Cost is obviously not just grit but labour, diesel, increased maintenance and everything else involved. Most council areas cover hundreds of miles of roads. Gritting anything much beyond main routes isn't financially or operationally viable.
oh and obviously MTFU 😉
There's probably funding they ask for in circumstances like this where a winter comes along that we've not had for some time to cope with the demand. And your right why aren't they gritting the pavements and just leaving the A1 blocked, it's ridiculous.
Get you shovel out and wonder up to the grit bin nearest you and help your community a little, the bins are there for you use.
Get you shovel out and wonder up to the grit bin nearest you and help your community a little, the bins are there for you use.
They're not refilling the grit bins round us (Nottinghamshire) because people have been nicking it for their driveways which means there's not enough left for pavements
There's usually a contingency fund for extraordinary happenings - or at least there used to be
They probably had it deposited in Icesave 🙂
The A1 is Highway Agency and your pavement is the local council. As far as I know, local councils foot the bill for their patch. What they spend on gritting, they can't spend on other maintenance for the rest of the year. Usual balancing act really.
They're not refilling the grit bins round us (Nottinghamshire) because people have been nicking it for their driveways which means there's not enough left for pavements
They aren't stealing it, it is there for them to use where needed, inc driveways.
It is irrespective what the grit in the bins is being used for, the problem here is the bins round here are not being filled.
Only repeating what notts county council has said
to be fair to Sheffield Council, they're doing a sterling job of keeping main roads and commonly used back roads clear. in addition to the gritters, they have transit van low-back jobs running round, pile of grit in the back and a bloke sat on it all chucking it out onto the road 🙂
Our three local councillors gritted an old folks home themselves after some residents complained it hadn't been done: http://darlingtoncouncillor.blogspot.com/2010/01/snow-stories-1.html
In Kirklees (according to council website) grit bins are for roads and pavements - not driveways and private pathways. I'd imagine it'd be much the same elsewhere. If I want to grit my drive I go and buy it ideally a long time before everyone else wants to buy it.
Be careful if you use the grit bins and spread grit anywhere, any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you as you are responsible, that is why our shared drive is always left snow/ice covered, it's not worth the risk with some of the 4rseholes in the world.
any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you
These people should be slapped, and possibly shot, for being such ungrateful twits.
I can't imagine gritting is [i]all[/i] that expensive as surely salty grity stuff can't be that expensive. Round our way the pavement gritting seems to be being done by the chaps who normally sweep the streets. Their cleaning trolley/bin things are full of grit and they shovel it on to pavements. Any litter is covered by snow so seems like th best use of their time = no extra labour costs.
Judging by the comments on this news story:
[url= http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Police-probe-region39s-great-grit.5955619.jp ]Police probe region's great grit robbery, Edinburgh Evening News, 5 Jan 2010[/url]
It seems loads of people think that taking grit from the grit bins is a crime, maybe that's why folk don't muck in and grit their own roads and pavements?
The paper even ran a poll: "Have you ever been tempted to [u]steal[/u] salt from a roadside grit bin? Vote here" 🙄
Be careful if you use the grit bins and spread grit anywhere, any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you as you are responsible, that is why our shared drive is always left snow/ice covered, it's not worth the risk with some of the 4rseholes in the world.
Words fail me.
My sister in law had a grit box placed in her street in Whitburn and she witnessed someone driving up in a pick up and shovelling all the grit into the back of the pick up then driving off!
Be careful if you use the grit bins and spread grit anywhere, any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you as you are responsible, that is why our shared drive is always left snow/ice covered, it's not worth the risk with some of the 4rseholes in the world.
The excuse of the lazy IMO
Are there any real cases of this happening?
Are there any real cases of this happening?
It's probably as real as the one about getting sued for giving first aid.
Are there any real cases of this happening?
Couldn't find any cases, but a quick google shows that it is a widespread concern.
"Private landowners are not obliged to clear snow or ice from the highway, even if the road or pavement passes over their land. Indeed, from a legal point of view it may be risky for private individuals to clear these areas. By sweeping snow from one part of the pavement you can create a danger in another area and if someone is injured, [u]you will be liable for negligence or nuisance[/u].On your own land, it is a different matter. You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as the postman) is likely to walk up your garden path, and you also know that the garden path is slippery, [u]you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary[/u]. "
-- [url= http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article3205122.ece ]The Times, January 18, 2008[/url]
votchy - MemberBe careful if you use the grit bins and spread grit anywhere, any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you as you are responsible, that is why our shared drive is always left snow/ice covered, it's not worth the risk with some of the 4rseholes in the world.
Utter pish.
Utter drivel - no chance of this whatsoever unless you tell all your neighbours - " I have gritted the street and now it is safe"
Change of tact in today's paper:
Norman Work, SNP councillor for Almond and deputy health leader on the council, said it was "no time for laziness" and residents should "stop expecting other people to do the work" – unless they are "90 years old"...
Councillor Work told the Evening News that everyone needed to take responsibility for keeping the city moving.He said: "A lot of people think the council should clear the pavements, but I think residents and shopkeepers should do it – unless you're 90 years old. There is only enough salt to go around. This is no time for laziness.
"There are a lot of fit people out there, stop expecting other people to do the work for you. Why not clear your own pavement?"
-- from http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Clearing-city39s-pavements-39not-job.5958710.jp
[i]Be careful if you use the grit bins and spread grit anywhere, any one having an accident on an area you have gritted can and may sue you as you are responsible, that is why our shared drive is always left snow/ice covered, it's not worth the risk with some of the 4rseholes in the world. [/i]
What risk your talking shit, your more at risk of being sued for not gritting your drive and someone providing you a service gets hurt. Failing to provide a safe working environment for the person.
You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 .....
1984 ?
I blame Thatcher then.
God that woman's got a lot to answer for.
Gritting anything much beyond main routes isn't financially or operationally viable.oh and obviously MTFU
Irrespective of being operationally viable , what the **** happens when the fire engine can't get up your street to put out your nextdoor neighbours and potentually your blazing home , who is to blame then??
I'm not complaining about the lack of grit but these lorries have great big shovels on the front that rarely get used to clear the roads possibly coz the roads are covered in ****in speed bumps.
The road in the street where I live is covered in 4" of hardpacked snow/ice , it has meant my missus hasn't been able to drive or park her car in the street for 2 weeks , no big deal we can walk to the car but this is an serious accident waiting to happen.
My solution , get the wee neds on community service , serving the community with a shovel and CLEAR THE BASTID STREETS. 😛
[i]Irrespective of being operationally viable , what the **** happens when the fire engine can't get up your street to put out your nextdoor neighbours and potentually your blazing home , who is to blame then??[/i]
All the snow will have melted from the flames, failing that I reckon they have hoses longer than 6 feet.
To be honest I feel the Country should foot the bill
has its an Emergency and Not general usage of the Salt
and is needed to get the country moving.
I think the country needs to focus on the demands of this
country before they give money willie nillie to other countrys
struggling
Who gave money for Cumbria? and now we are worried about money
to keep this country moving
Dont make sence
It comes from the Council's budget. They may fund it from underspends in other areas, or may put a freeze on certain other budgets to pay for it. I doubt very much that the council would fund the gritting of people's driveways. The grit would be there for roads and pavements.