Topic ID 4142
It would appear that along with not having enough snow plows we have a lack of salt and grit for the roads! I kind of understand the reason behind not having lots of snow plows rusting away in the depots for the use in extreme weather conditions every 18 or so years... but [img]http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/confused/041.gif[/img] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4514978/Britain-faces-another-10-inches-of-snow-as-grit-supplies-run-low.html [img]http://bestsmileys.com/winter/5.gif[/img]
Reply ID 60198
I think it was an absolute disgrace that the A414 hadn't been gritted on Monday morning. After it took me 2.5 hours to drive 6 miles along that road, I just couldn't face the rest of my 45 mile journey to work and turned back. It was so dangerous - really thick snow and ice, lorries that just stopped because they couldn't go any further. If you have an understanding boss, it would be great to have a snow day, but if you don't (like me unfortunately!) it was a major pain.
Reply ID 60200
quote:Glad, from what you say, I didn't try and get into work on Monday as I also use the A414. Luckily I can remote desktop into the office and work from home. In fact I probably did more work that day than those who made it to the office,as they closed the office at 2:30 [:)]
Originally posted by Jo S
I think it was an absolute disgrace that the A414 hadn't been gritted on Monday morning. After it took me 2.5 hours to drive 6 miles along that road, I just couldn't face the rest of my 45 mile journey to work and turned back. It was so dangerous - really thick snow and ice, lorries that just stopped because they couldn't go any further. If you have an understanding boss, it would be great to have a snow day, but if you don't (like me unfortunately!) it was a major pain.
Reply ID 60201
I know someone from Bengeo who started a new job in Welwyn on Monday, she made it but was the most frightened she had ever been, not been the best week to strat travelling to a new job!
Reply ID 60206
I came along the A414 on Monday morning at 4am. they were trying to grit the road then,but the snow was coming down so hard,it just wasn't doing anything
Reply ID 60210
The roads were awful but the path's were even worse. I felt like Bambi 'on ice' trying to get to the station. In fact I still felt like Bambi 'on ice' today walking to the station. We had advance warning of the snow storm early last week but the councils/governments response was woeful. I'm still waiting to see the path's cleared so pedestrians can walk on them.
Reply ID 60221
This morning near St Albans, some guy was walking along the carriage way ignoring HGVs etc trying to squeeze past. I admired his courage.
Reply ID 60227
Sorry to hear everybody's scary driving tales; it has been so dangerous recently. I am wondering how I am going to get to town and back this evening. My best bets were on walking, but how do I get down Port Hill in one piece? [:o)] Are the pavements worse than the roads?
Reply ID 60231
quote:Fly? [:p]
Originally posted by SallyB
Sorry to hear everybody's scary driving tales; it has been so dangerous recently. I am wondering how I am going to get to town and back this evening. My best bets were on walking, but how do I get down Port Hill in one piece? [:o)] Are the pavements worse than the roads?
Reply ID 60234
It was snowing when I left home at 4.50 this morning. There was an inch or more of snow on the roads. The 414 from the town centre was very tricky to drive on with really only one lane in use. Quite heavy snow fall up the hill from the Thieves lane roundabout. (in fact similar road conditions nearly all the way to J21 of the M25) Don’t think the roads had been gritted and I can’t say I saw any gritting lorries.
Reply ID 60235
quote:Quite right. Pedestrians (and isn't that all of us?) are invariably just left to get on with it when it snows. As a result we have to take to walking in the road. Yesterday I had to walk the length of Cowbridge doing just that, as did everyone else I saw.
Originally posted by Bubbaoshea
The roads were awful but the path's were even worse. I felt like Bambi 'on ice' trying to get to the station. In fact I still felt like Bambi 'on ice' today walking to the station. We had advance warning of the snow storm early last week but the councils/governments response was woeful. I'm still waiting to see the path's cleared so pedestrians can walk on them.
Reply ID 60243
news item.......... "Worst is yet to come on Hertfordshire roads" 4:56pm Thursday 5th February 2009 By Alex Lewis » ENGINEERS are warning that overnight snow is likely to severely affect roads tomorrow, especially as their stocks of rock salt are running low. County council spokeswoman Jo Brown said: "Hertfordshire Highways is preparing for more severe weather conditions following weather forecasts indicating further snow hitting Hertfordshire overnight and tomorrow morning, with sub-zero temperatures at the weekend. "If the weather is as bad as forecast, it may take time to get roads clear Stuart Pile, cabinet member for roads said: "Hertfordshire has been hit hard by severe weather this week and it seems that there's to be little reprieve in the near future. We ask everyone for their continued patience while we deal with these conditions and, as always, to consider whether their journey is necessary. If you must go out, take great care on the roads and footways." We will continue to grit and plough the roads that are our highest priority (the county’s A and B roads, all bus routes, at least one road in and out of villages, industrial areas and shopping centres) and will respond to conditions as they develop. We will be careful to strike a balance between keeping priority roads passable and conserving salt so that we can continue to keep gritting. snow chains, anyone??[:I]
Reply ID 60246
That's me working from home tomorrow then [:D] Take care everybody.
Reply ID 60247
Post the source please Jaycee
Reply ID 60248
quote:The majority of industrial areas (ie industrial estates) are privately owned, so the salting is the duty of the landowner, surely? The public pavements are the priority.
Originally posted by Jaycee
news item.......... "Worst is yet to come on Hertfordshire roads" 4:56pm Thursday 5th February 2009 By Alex Lewis » ENGINEERS are warning that overnight snow is likely to severely affect roads tomorrow, especially as their stocks of rock salt are running low. County council spokeswoman Jo Brown said: "Hertfordshire Highways is preparing for more severe weather conditions following weather forecasts indicating further snow hitting Hertfordshire overnight and tomorrow morning, with sub-zero temperatures at the weekend. "If the weather is as bad as forecast, it may take time to get roads clear Stuart Pile, cabinet member for roads said: "Hertfordshire has been hit hard by severe weather this week and it seems that there's to be little reprieve in the near future. We ask everyone for their continued patience while we deal with these conditions and, as always, to consider whether their journey is necessary. If you must go out, take great care on the roads and footways." We will continue to grit and plough the roads that are our highest priority (the county’s A and B roads, all bus routes, at least one road in and out of villages, industrial areas and shopping centres) and will respond to conditions as they develop. We will be careful to strike a balance between keeping priority roads passable and conserving salt so that we can continue to keep gritting. snow chains, anyone??[:I]
Reply ID 60250
quote:http://www.stalbansreview.co.uk/news/4105264._Worst_is_yet_to_come_on_Hertfordshire_roads_/
Originally posted by James007
Post the source please Jaycee
Reply ID 60271
Does anyone know what the pavements are like in town today (Friday)? I am 6 months pregnant and quite nervous of going out on slippery pavements but I need to go to drs and just wondered if they were now more snowy than icy? It's dreadful that the pavements get neglected by the gritters, in some ways they are more important than the roads, because fit young people can always get out and walk to the shops etc, but older people, and people who have some sort of infirmity or are pregnant like me (and don't drive!) have no option but to risk life and limb getting about.
Reply ID 60298
Sorry to say Possum that if you don't drive then you're just not important. I had a look inside the big yellow grit container in Byde Street this morning and it was full, but the pavement from the top of the hill to the bottom was still untreated. This is a route that children take walking to school, my own daughter fell over there on Wednesday. If I had a wheelbarrow I'd do it myself. In fact, does anyone live nearby who's got a wheelbarrow? Two of us could do it in no time!!
Reply ID 60300
I think the point of the big yellow grit containers is they are self-serve, you are meant to do it yourself!
Reply ID 60312
Being careful you don't slip over on the way to the bin....
Reply ID 60379
I could understand the fact that on Monday I could tow my son on his sled through town with him only occasionally having to get off to cross a cleared road. However when there is still snow and ice uncleared from a footpath like the pavement in Welwyn Road 5 days later it is just downright dangerous and appalling work by the council. Yet again they sit there in their ivory tower completely oblivious to the REAL world. I'll bet dollars to donuts the approach to county hall was nice and clear...or did they just not bother turning up.
Reply ID 60411
The alleyways between Fordwich Hill and North Road have been absolutely dreadful for days now, it is almost impossible to walk due to the thick, untreated ice. It must be completely impossible for the elderly.
Reply ID 60415
The council can't clear the snow due to good old Health & Safety. The council has no control over whether or not it snows so cannot be held liable for the weather. However, if they clear the snow they have created an artificial situation and if someone slips over they then become liable. If you want to moan then have a go at the ambulance chasers.
Reply ID 60416
Nope, but they can provide grit bins, I'd happily spend an hour spreading it around the alleyway if there was one nearby. Maybe there is and I haven't seen it.
Reply ID 60420
quote:Big oblong box. Yellow. Has 'GRIT' written on the front.[;)]
Originally posted by steven
Nope, but they can provide grit bins, I'd happily spend an hour spreading it around the alleyway if there was one nearby. Maybe there is and I haven't seen it.
Reply ID 60422
quote:Got a lat/long? [:)] I had a look on the way home from the station tonight, but since it was absolutely chucking it down the rain had done most of it for me [:)]
Originally posted by shunt
Big oblong box. Yellow. Has 'GRIT' written on the front.[;)]