snowbound and stranded at home, relying on lifts from neighbours in their 4x4s

[Diver]

Should we get rid of gritters and the nanny state and do as Germany does :

Yes!

[threaded]

Should we get rid of gritters and the nanny state and do as Germany does :

Seconded.

Although I'd add a short ban ('til the end of winter) + points on the license too.

[darmstadt]

Should we get rid of gritters and the nanny state and do as Germany does :

Also you'll notice that German roads don't have catseyes, this is so the snowploughs don't rip them up and they can clear the roads properly. I've noticed that snowploughs in the UK, where they have and use them, tend to have the plough too high therefore leaving too much snow on the road.

But they do have gritters here though. Also houseowners are responsible for clearing the snow in front of and on their property, immediately. If you're at work or whatever you are still responsible so you have to arrange for a 3rd party to do it for you.

[Pondlife]

I've noticed that certain areas in DE grit the pavement as well. Which is nice

[NickFitz]

Also houseowners are responsible for clearing the snow in front of and on their property, immediately. If you're at work or whatever you are still responsible so you have to arrange for a 3rd party to do it for you.

There's a Plan B of sorts

[RichardCranium]

Also houseowners are responsible for clearing the snow in front of and on their property, immediately. If you're at work or whatever you are still responsible so you have to arrange for a 3rd party to do it for you.

I think I see why everyone was against the Germans winning the war.

[Diver]

I think I see why everyone was against the Germans winning the war.

Yes!

To be truly British, you have to advocate and actively support Chaos, Inefficiency, Greed, Laziness and page 3

[milanbenes]

Zeity nice coat that jacket....


if you had a set of winters tyres on any front wheel drive car you would have no problem in the snow

there you are, a set of michelins for a 16' wheel (ideal for us Passat owners):

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/...-16,100,T.html


not only will it help you in the snow, the grip of these tyres is so good you will benefit in the rain too, and for example pulling away, corners etc


I've suggested this before, and I suggest it again

on the Pathfinder we have Pirelli scorpions:

http://www.tyres-pneus-online.co.uk/...R17,110,H.html



Milan.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Wow a lot of posts on this today!

Aren't these pretty standard conditions if one lives in the countryside in winter? I always assumed that was why people who live in rural areas tend to have 4x4s and a large stockpile of household supplies, together with lots of fridge-freezers stuffed full of food.

Still, you now know to be prepared in advance next winter.

I believe the weather's supposed to improve this week. Good luck

I'm not exactly countryside, just 300 metres from the M25 within the london tube network.

For Permies

For Contractors (Because Harrods don't do groceries online)

nice try - no delivery slots available until after Xmas! Also waitrose don't deliver outside of M25.

Buying a 4x4 for £30,000 seems a bit of an overkill, when you can pick up a set of winter tyres for £200, and if that aint enough you can spend an extra £30 on some snow chains.

hmmm snow chains - I'll look into that - thanks! Should they be taken off once on a gritted road?

That is true. I had assumed snow tyres already, had forgotten that the Brits haven't discovered them yet.

Anyway, none of that stuff will get the other people stuck in front of you out of the way. Only the council gritting will do that. Time for regime change?

I'm sure the council would grit all the roads once our council tax goes up from £2500 to £3500 or whatever.

Could you not just get a decent pair of boots and walk it? 4 miles is not far.

I'm fine walking there thanks, now to get back with a large trolley load of heavy shopping? Ok the Vets I could have done it, glad I didn't though last night the weather was atrocious after 4pm.

So, all the 4x4's have caused Global Warming which obviously (think of a greenhouse) leads to freezing winters and so everyone needs a huge 4x4 to survive the snow and ice.

Doomed!

Gordon, save us! Put taxes up!

Are you 80+?

No I am 45, but slipping on the icy drive 3 times and getting cramp in my leg after clearing the drive and trying to get my wellies off didn't help - the drive is very steep and the road is like a ski-slope.

I could not get the large brown wheelie bin up to the road for recycling collection tomorrow - too heavy to pull without slipping on the ice and cracking open my head.

I looked into getting some salt delivered - it won't come until after Xmas.

Exactly - and he has a dog, so he could walk the dog at the same time.

although from the sound of it, the dog is also as soft as tulipe if its food needs buying from the vet

(FFS people who sentimentally hang onto ailing pets for years are pathetic, and cruel to the pets - Have them put down and get a new one.)

The dog is a puppy and is on some "premium" brand food which the vet sells with a loyalty scheme attached. Bloody food is probably more than double the price of anything else, if we feed it anything else it gets diarrhea.

Also the puppy needs 2 hands to control it - how do I carry shopping with the dog trying to greet every passer-by by jumping up at them?

Also poor thing would freeze, the pavements are not gritted, its fur picks up the snow and turns it into a mini snow yeti!



Today I also phoned around to see if it was possible to get the road gritted privately, apparently this is not allowed on public highways. So residents on 'unimportant' roads can be left stranded for days on end without anyone caring.

I phoned up the county council anyway - and they said they would put the road on a list to be gritted if a gritting appliance becomes available - apparently there were some in the area. That seemed like good news - but nothing showed up.

I'd like to see how the refuse collection van comes down the road tomorrow.

I also phoned up our local councillor to point out how communication from the local authorities to residents of ungritted roads is so poor that they have little chance of adequately preparing for such bad weather - given it is their own responsibility some official guidance on how to prepare would be beneficial I think.

So, top of my to-do list now, in case this weather returns in January is:

1. Buy on-line a 25kg bag or two of salt
2. Research show chains
3. Buy a decent snow shovel
4. In fact see what the bulk buy price of snow shovels and salt is, some of the neighbours might be interested.
5. Get online food order delivery slots reserved for week after Xmas

[Diver]

They have just reopened the Severn crossings.

They closed them because sheets and lumps of ice were falling off the superstructure again.

They did that in February, just as I got there on my trip back from Brighton, I was the last car they allowed across before the bridge closed

Unfortunately I had to fly out to Hamburg on the Monday from Gatwick, and because of heavy snow and the M4 and bridges closed, I had to drive from S Wales to Birmingham before I could drive south. Took me 7 1/2 hours and only made the flight because it was delayed my over 2 hours.

Thankfully I don't have to travel until February now