Reply to THIS thread
Start a NEW Talkback Thread
Talkback Home

Curious road clearing practices - KB (21st Jan 2013 - 18:59:07) Some unusal road clearing assistance was witnessed in my area after the recent snow. On Sunday a bulldozer came on the street made one half-hearted pass and managed to only half fill his front-loader as he wasn't going very deep then disappeared. The brief effort managed to only pack the snow tighter to the road and make it feel a bit more slippery. Weird. Even weirder, today, a gritting lorry full of grit and lights flashing appeared on the street (never seen one back here before) and made a very slow crawl down the street but was NOT dropping any grit. He disappeared. Hours later the bulldozer again appeared, made one more partial half hearted scape and then disappeared. After inspecting the road it is now very hard-packed ice and would surely be treachurous overnight when it freezes solid. A few of us have now got the spades out and chipped a small path so our cars can make it to the treated surface not too far away. I know that these residential streets don't get serviced for snow and we are lucky to have had the attention of (I assume) the parish. We do appreciate it but if you are going to bother to come out with the machines I think a few well performed passes on Sunday (10-20 minutes max) would have sorted it first time. Thanks anyway, maybe next time?

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Dawn Hoskins (22nd Jan 2013 - 12:34:45) Sounds like the lorry driver must have been lost!! The County Councils Highways Department organise the gritting / salting / snow plough routes etc. The Parish Council can purchase salt/grit bins - which the County Council should replenish. I notice a thread on the Grayshott chat-site that the scalpings that have been put down are causing problems to shop owners as they are so sharp and scratchy they damage the internal floors. However - I wouldn't say no to some on the icy pavements around here!

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Richard (22nd Jan 2013 - 19:16:27) How do I arrange to get a grit bin refilled as the one up my road is empty? And we also had the bulldozer, but on Saturday. Monday different one to finish the job. The theory I heard was it makes it look like something is being done, but as we all found it may not help. Perhaps if everyone got out their spades and shovels and did a little bit, then the roads would be cleared in no time...

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Kbps (22nd Jan 2013 - 22:10:42) Hi Richard, I think if you look in the lid of the salt bin there will be a number to call to refill, but good luck as they will put that at the bottom of any priority list if they put it at all. Ours is empty since day 1 and the call went in right after the thing was emptied. Even though it says that it only takes a tablespoon per square metre, that ratio doesn't work well after the snow has accumulated. We all need to go out BEFORE the snow sticks and spread the grit then it would work over a larger area and go farther. However it is still not enough to cover a very large area like mine. A second bin would be useful. Anyway, we are where we are, more snow tonight covering the half scraped streets. No grit to try to mitigate the effect.

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Richard (23rd Jan 2013 - 08:16:57) Thanks for the tip. I found a link on Hantsweb (Hampshire County Council web site) and have requested a top up. Hopefully they will do this soon, and it might stop the bin wandering round Manor Fields estate (as it seems to have grown legs over the last couple of days and has had to be returned! - I am sure it is just kids having a laugh, because surely adults aren't so immature to move such things?)

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Richard (23rd Jan 2013 - 17:43:17) Refilled this afternoon. I think that is great service

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Susie (23rd Jan 2013 - 18:16:54) I phoned them this morning and they had refilled it by this evening.

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Richard (24th Jan 2013 - 20:46:39) This thread does show that the Hampshire County Council can get some things perfect, so why are other things such hard work, eg. proper road repairs...

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Neil (26th Jan 2013 - 21:56:33) Is there a grit/salt bin anywhere on Canada Way? The pavements today were like ice rinks; not great when you are with a 2 year old!

Re: Curious road clearing practices - Richard (27th Jan 2013 - 08:52:46) This link should tell you if there are any http://maps.hants.gov.uk/saltroutesmap/ I vaguely remember that they bins were only put on roads that were not flat, but I may be mistaken. What I normally do is get a 25Kg sack of dishwasher salt and use that to de-ice the paths around my house, and as it is pure salt, no grit comes in the house.

Reply to THIS thread
Talkback Home