Thoughts on snow clearing

[goldstone]

So a week or more after the "big snow" the pavements were still covered by a sheet of ice until yesterday. How fecking dangerous is that? And how come nothing was apparently being done to clear them.

Three obvious solutions:
1. Get the military out to clear them. Those who are not overseas are sitting around doing nothing particularly useful. Why not give them shovels (I'm sure the forces have plenty) and get them out all over the country clearing pavements? I am sure it would raise the image of the armed forces in the minds of many British citizens.
2. Get prisoners out doing the same thing. Why should they be sitting in their nice warm jails? Get them out in the cold working. And some of the army fellas could make sure they don't escape.
3. Get the unemployed out in the streets with shovels. "If you want your unemployment cheque this week matey, you'll need to go snow clearing."

I think a combination of the above would have got all our pavements cleared in fairly good time.

 

[Bob!]

4. have 'grit bins' placed strategically so that everyone can do the bit outside their own home/business

 

[Gully]

1. Get the military out to clear them. Those who are not overseas are sitting around doing nothing particularly useful. Why not give them shovels (I'm sure the forces have plenty) and get them out all over the country clearing pavements? I am sure it would raise the image of the armed forces in the minds of many British citizens.

How big do you think the military are in this day and age...discount those who are serving in places like Afghanistan, preparing to deploy or recovering from their last deployment and there wouldn't be a great deal to go around!

 

[Fungus]

4. have 'grit bins' placed strategically so that everyone can do the bit outside their own home/business

Yeah, that's me. Takes about 10 minutes. And well done to the council for filling up the grit bin.

 

[sully]

Particularly in a week when most people have been off work, why is it someone else's problem to clear the snow for you?

Do it yourself, you lazy git!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

How about you look where you're going, don't go out in stilettoes, and take responsibility for yourself?

 

[StanmoreSeagull]

If everyone took responsibilty and cleared the pavements outside their own homes the problem wouldn't be half as bad. If there is no salt and/or you're too tight to buy your own use a shovel! It's not rocket science!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

1. Get the military out to clear them. Those who are not overseas are sitting around doing nothing particularly useful. Why not give them shovels (I'm sure the forces have plenty) and get them out all over the country clearing pavements? I am sure it would raise the image of the armed forces in the minds of many British.

Rather disrespectful. If I was a soldier I'd pick up a shovel and donk you on the head with it.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

option 3 will be in place for next winter.

 

[8ace]

I'd make fat people clear all the snow away, the salad dodging fuckers could do with the exercise.

 

[strings]

4. have 'grit bins' placed strategically so that everyone can do the bit outside their own home/business

We used to have a grit bin at work - available to all. We don't any more because people kept stealing our grit! We didn't mind being locally spirited - we did mind people blatently stealing all of our grit. A shovel load is fine, walking off with a 15kg bag of grit is theft. We now keep it under lock and key.

I think the council should do more to clear the pavements - why do drivers always get priority over pedestrians? In the ice pedestrians are encouraged to walk on the roads because the pavements are so leathal.

 

[beorhthelm]

require that all residents clear the path outside their house. thats what they do in the US i believe. not sure how that works with remote homes, elderly or infirm, or how its enforced though.

 

[strings]

require that all residents clear the path outside their house. thats what they do in the US i believe. not sure how that works with remote homes, elderly or infirm, or how its enforced though.

That is because the path out the front of you house (in many states) is part of your property. That is why, on some estates, there is no path on the plots where houses haven't been built. It is a good idea - but I doubt us Brits would take to it.

 

[Norman Potting]

If everyone took responsibilty and cleared the pavements outside their own homes the problem wouldn't be half as bad. If there is no salt and/or you're too tight to buy your own use a shovel! It's not rocket science!

I cleared mine although there wasn't much evidence of anybody else doing theirs, glad I bought a couple of bags of rock salt and a proper (ie not plastic) shovel to do the job prior to the snow. I understand that the " 'elf and safety" argument about being sued doesn't hold water unless you actually leave the pavement in a more dangerous state than when you started, the example being if you were dumb enough to try and clear the snow by pouring hot water on it to simply freeze again.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

require that all residents clear the path outside their house. thats what they do in the US i believe. not sure how that works with remote homes, elderly or infirm, or how its enforced though.

That’s right. By law property owners have to clear snow and ice in front of their properties. A lot of vehicles owned by the sanitation department have been adapted so that snow ploughs can easily be attached. The mayor of New York has been heavily criticised for the city’s response – but then there has been a bit more snow than the UK……………………..