Snow! Am I the only one who has had enough?

[weenie]

and my street

[chameleon]

Brother in law just arrived from Vancouver asking why nothing is done to clear the snow over here?Seems there every Road is ploughed every three hours around the clock - no need for snow tyres - and more often when it's bad (apparantly this isn't )    

[Cardiarms]

Because they have an infrastructure that needs it for six months of the year and we fumble through a few weeks and would scream if we had to pay to maintain the capability to clear around the clock.

[Leeds-lad]

chameleon wrote: chameleon wrote: Gritted!! No not gutted, gritted - our little estate was impassable for most people last year, when we did get help, the grit wagon had to go up the hill in reverse to create himself a passable track! Help is here early this year.We all know the major routes are the priority but the point comes where the value of this is limited if you can't reach these, by car or on foot - not everyone is adequately sure-footed to cope with the conditions.     Can't help thinking the snow plough we have just had might have been bettwr before the gritting - instead of scraping it all away Plough is set approx 10 mm to 25mm above ground so that can't happen.

[Leeds-lad]

Leeds-lad wrote: chameleon wrote: chameleon wrote: Gritted!! No not gutted, gritted - our little estate was impassable for most people last year, when we did get help, the grit wagon had to go up the hill in reverse to create himself a passable track! Help is here early this year.We all know the major routes are the priority but the point comes where the value of this is limited if you can't reach these, by car or on foot - not everyone is adequately sure-footed to cope with the conditions.     Can't help thinking the snow plough we have just had might have been bettwr before the gritting - instead of scraping it all away Plough is set approx 10 mm to 25mm above ground so that can't happen. Besides which the plough is on the front and the grit is at the back.At least it was today when I was driving one. Yes I know what you mean however, salt was simply spread on top of 4 - 6" of snow, tyre tracks left behind were that deep as he passed me, no plough in use, followed later by a front mounted plough blade on a large tractor - no salt, so the upper treated layer was pushed away to the road side!    

[blackprince]

I have this theory that speed bumps , cushions . sleeping policemen etc become lethal in this kind of weather and also impede snow ploughs. Has anyone seen any evidence of this in the great snow covered field trial that nature has provided?

[chameleon]

Cardiarms wrote: Because they have an infrastructure that needs it for six months of the year and we fumble through a few weeks and would scream if we had to pay to maintain the capability to clear around the clock. Suspect you're right Cardi but then we scream anyway because its not done don't we. Still remains an issue that having major routes 'clear' is of limited value when so many remain un able to access them to use.

[raveydavey]

There were tractors out yesterday with ploughs on the front and small grit hoppers on the back. And then there were tractors with just a plough fitted to the back.I finished work in Halifax early yesterday (fortunately I have a sympathetic employer and work flexi-time), dropped a mate off at Elland Bridge and then drove through Brighouse and onto the M62 at Brighouse. Roads were near deserted and all were clear (admittedly I was sticking to A roads and the motorway. When I got to the M621 at Gildersome it was quite slushy, but still completely passable.Then the fun started. M621 Junction 3 (exit for the city centre, traffic tailing back onto the motorway and some herbert in a taxi was trying to force his way in near the front of the queue on the slip road blocking the inside lane of the M621. I exited at Junction 4, which took me round and onto the John Smeaton viaduct - all clear. Round onto the new link road, then off past East End Park onto York Road at Torre Road. Despite York Road being cleared, I then encountered some dimwit doing 20mph. Fortunately he / she turned off at the Shaftesbury and traffic resumed normal speed.However, just through the lights at the former Melbourne Roundabout (and unsighted due to the road layout) traffic stopped. It then took an age, at a maximum of 5mph (and longe periods of not moving at all) to crawl up the hill to the Ring Road. As traffic was queuing up the hill, I opted to take Barwick Road and then drive up through the Swarcliffe estate, thinking that given there are 3 major bus routes through the estate and there is also the fire station, that the roads would have been treated. There was up to 4 inches of snow on the road and progress was slow, not helped by people who thought the best way to get up a hill was to select first gear and the let the clutch out whilst the engine bounced off the rev limiter.Mrs ravey left work in the city centre at noon and waited 30 minutes for a bus (choice of 2 'every 10 minutes' services at the stop she was at). Whilst lots of buses passed displaying "Not In Service" none stopped despite the lengthening queues. Eventually one did stop and the female driver stated she was running "2 hours late" and was about to phone in for further instructions, but refused to allow anyone to board despite there already being passengers on the bus and drove off leaving the potential passengers in the snow. I know buses suffer as much as the rest of traffic, but what an appalling attitude and state of affairs. Mrs Ravey then went for a train to Crossgates which, despite being delayed by over 40 minutes arrived and got here there (and is surprisingly cheaper than the bus!). She was fortunate enough to be able to get a bus home from Crossgates avoiding a walk of just over half a mile. Door to door took her almost 3 hours...    

[Leeds-lad]

Leeds-lad wrote: Leeds-lad wrote: chameleon wrote: chameleon wrote: Gritted!! No not gutted, gritted - our little estate was impassable for most people last year, when we did get help, the grit wagon had to go up the hill in reverse to create himself a passable track! Help is here early this year.We all know the major routes are the priority but the point comes where the value of this is limited if you can't reach these, by car or on foot - not everyone is adequately sure-footed to cope with the conditions.     Can't help thinking the snow plough we have just had might have been bettwr before the gritting - instead of scraping it all away Plough is set approx 10 mm to 25mm above ground so that can't happen. Besides which the plough is on the front and the grit is at the back.At least it was today when I was driving one. Yes I know what you mean however, salt was simply spread on top of 4 - 6" of snow, tyre tracks left behind were that deep as he passed me, no plough in use, followed later by a front mounted plough blade on a large tractor - no salt, so the upper treated layer was pushed away to the road side!     In that case Chameleon i would be phoning LCC and ask them what they are playing at in allowing a tractor plough to follow a gritter.Neither of them may have been aware they were both operating in the vicinity.

[dogduke]

Just had the dogs out for a much needed(them not me)walk.Very little cloud or breeze,doesn't seem as cold as previous nightsMight just give us a bit of a break on Friday.