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.
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