Some councils running out of grit

[efq]

Some councils have just three days' worth of grit left after supplies were "massively" depleted by the heavy snow, a local government spokesman has admitted.

Councils faced criticism for a failure to prevent disruption which stopped millions of people getting to work in recent days.
But the Local Government Association (LGA) denied accusations that authorities were cutting the number of roads they grit - and insisted no council was in real danger of running out.
The spokesman said: "Council supplies of grit have been massively depleted after the cold snap and heavy snow that has hit much of the east of the country.
"As of noon on Tuesday, stocks held by councils range from two weeks' worth to three days worth of grit if they were continuously gritting 24 hours a day. This is taking a worst case assumption that the weather forecasters have misjudged the conditions and that the weather reverts to being as bad as earlier in the week.
"This does not mean that councils will run out of grit as stocks are being replenished all the time. Grit stocks were depleted during the cold snap around the beginning of 2009 and councils had restocked storage warehouses to make sure that they could tackle further cold weather.
"Where stocks are running low, councils will work with each other to make sure that everyone has access to enough to keep battling the icy and snowy conditions. If that fails to deal with any issue, then councils will talk to the Highways Agency to look for further supplies."
Councils are responsible for nine out of every ten miles of road in the country. The Highways Agency is responsible for motorways and A roads, while Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for arterial trunk roads in the capital. Both TfL and the Highways Agency also insisted their stocks were in no danger of running out.
Meanwhile, Network Rail said most national train services were slowly returning to normal, with only Kent and Sussex still suffering major reductions in service.
Delays remained on 45% of services nationwide, but the company said it expected things to return to normal within the next two days.

If they run out of grit then that will be a hugeeeeeeeeeeeeee problem...definetly where I live, the main roads near me didn't get gritted for some reason so they had orange flashing lights down all the roads and a speed restriction... so if they run out then it will be chaos.

[Jahova]

Yep, they will be Chaos.

[Casanova]

I mean this in the nicest way possible but...

HAHA! Dear god it's so funny to watch the parliament scurry around, claiming that they've done well when they've been greatly underprepared, extremely stupid and now they're not stocking enough salt?

I come from Scotland, so snow is nothing new. All the streets in my town (main ones) are all exceedingly well gritted and alot of the smaller streets are much the same.

It's worrying to think that the Highway maintenance have an extremely large stock pile, but are being cagey. As are all other county districts. They're refusing to release their exact amounts to their neighbours.

The government has said they will assist any county council with less than five days stockage - but they need it now and fast! Lifes could be at risk.


It's pityful that our ecconomy lost a whopping 3.5billion sterling in ONE DAY, it's pityful that one of the most diverse and richest countries in the world couldn't keep their main capital open with fully functioning (albeit limited) travel options open?

I was the reading the times and there was a reporter whom spoke to the swedish travel office. He asked the operator is sweden has any troubles with the snow and they said mostly not... they even mentioned they literally laughed at the pitiful mess britain was in with a few inches of frozen rain .

[efq]

I mean this in the nicest way possible but...

HAHA! Dear god it's so funny to watch the parliament scurry around, claiming that they've done well when they've been greatly underprepared, extremely stupid and now they're not stocking enough salt?

I come from Scotland, so snow is nothing new. All the streets in my town (main ones) are all exceedingly well gritted and alot of the smaller streets are much the same.

It's worrying to think that the Highway maintenance have an extremely large stock pile, but are being cagey. As are all other county districts. They're refusing to release their exact amounts to their neighbours.

The government has said they will assist any county council with less than five days stockage - but they need it now and fast! Lifes could be at risk.


It's pityful that our ecconomy lost a whopping 3.5billion sterling in ONE DAY, it's pityful that one of the most diverse and richest countries in the world couldn't keep their main capital open with fully functioning (albeit limited) travel options open?

I was the reading the times and there was a reporter whom spoke to the swedish travel office. He asked the operator is sweden has any troubles with the snow and they said mostly not... they even mentioned they literally laughed at the pitiful mess britain was in with a few inches of frozen rain .

Britain don't usually have this much snow. For a country that rarely gets it then you can't expect them to be as prepared as them countrys that have it alot. Councils are putting alot of grit because it has shown in the first few days of this heavy snow the usual grit wasn't helping at all and that roads we're still icy. This being the heaviest snow for 13 years plus the freezing temperatures was obviously going to equal to trouble.

Councils have now resorted to buying 500 tones of table salt. Grit is now being deported from Spain and Germany and to reach the UK Port on Wednesday.
It is highly advised not to drive as it is likely the road may have not been gritted.

[Colin-Roberts]

Alittle Old .. It's funny watching england in general worry about the snow.. In canada that much snow is only alittle inconvient and our grit piles are massive. In england everything stops

[Corporal]

Alittle Old .. It's funny watching england in general worry about the snow.. In canada that much snow is only alittle inconvient and our grit piles are massive. In england everything stops

Like its been said your used to it.
Imagine if somewhere like australia got hit with massive's of snow they wouldnt cope either as they are not used to this amount.