Grit stockpiled by Lancashire councils ready for winter (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Well that all sounds about right . . . . . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

burner wrote:
Well that all sounds about right . . . . . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

Not degrading your comment, but what people don't realise is that salt and grit doesn't work below -4 degrees C anyway. Grit also needs the "churning" action of vehicle wheels running over it to prevent ice forming. So if it's below -4, and no vehicles on the road, ain't gonna work!

You gave credence to my comment, masher. They will all be on here, howling, "Where's the gritters ? " when, as you rightly say, it doesn't work immediately in low temperatures or in a heavy fall. Still . . . . at least they seem to be stocked up, eh?

burner wrote:
You gave credence to my comment, masher. They will all be on here, howling, "Where's the gritters ? " when, as you rightly say, it doesn't work immediately in low temperatures or in a heavy fall. Still . . . . at least they seem to be stocked up, eh?

"You gave credence to my comment"- thankfully some one who realises that! You've to be so careful on here at times, so many posters take things out of context!
Yes, they do seem to be stocking up, which is a step in the right direction. But after the debacle of the last two winters, I don't think "the powers that be" dare do anything else but be as ready as they can be!

maybe ramsgreave drive will see a few grains of grit then!

Quoting burner .....
. . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

What's your solution to that then ?

masher50 wrote:

burner wrote:
Well that all sounds about right . . . . . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

Not degrading your comment, but what people don't realise is that salt and grit doesn't work below -4 degrees C anyway. Grit also needs the "churning" action of vehicle wheels running over it to prevent ice forming. So if it's below -4, and no vehicles on the road, ain't gonna work!

Am not sure they have got enough infact i think they have slipped up here.

Dickiepayshey wrote:
Quoting burner .....
. . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

What's your solution to that then ?

Unfortunately there isnt one. The UK does not have cold enough winters to warrant mandating the use of snow chains.
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Also, if we ever did mandate the use of such devices, we would not be able to grit any of the roads - so it is a case of putting up with the disruption to journeys.
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It is a fact that you can throw as much salt as you like on snow and all it will do is form a brine layer on to which snow will simply mix in to. Can anyone remember the salted footpaths in town centre? It was like walking through sand and would have been better if no salt at all had been put down; either that, or cleared completely.
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As burner says though, whatever the council does will not be enough for some people.

Dickiepayshey wrote:
Quoting burner .....
. . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

What's your solution to that then ?

s smith has answered for me - (ta) .There is nothing to do after a significant fall but grit your teeth!

masher50 wrote:

burner wrote:
Well that all sounds about right . . . . . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

Not degrading your comment, but what people don't realise is that salt and grit doesn't work below -4 degrees C anyway. Grit also needs the "churning" action of vehicle wheels running over it to prevent ice forming. So if it's below -4, and no vehicles on the road, ain't gonna work!

Its actually approximately -9 C before its useless (getting progressively better the warmer it is) but the point is more that 'hilly' areas were left without grit in the tubs for 9 months last year while the useless council kept on spouting out the same old crap thinking everyone is thick.

Lets see what the excuse is this year!

Dickiepayshey wrote:
Quoting burner .....
. . . but I bet there is still chaos! No amount of grit can cope with a deluge of fresh snow.

What's your solution to that then ?

Put ploughs on all DLA funded cars! Every street could be done.

On a serious side, mandating the use of winter tyres would be of benefit.

It would be slightly better for pedestrians if home owners got out and did a bit of snow shovelling outside their houses. That way they could get a bit of exercise, burn a few of those lardy calories off, keep themselves warm and save on the heating bills.

To keep the town centres clear get the community service bums and these on the benefits out clearing the snow as well. Let them earn their money for once.

They used to do it in the bad old days when winters were proper winters with snow drifts up to the top of house and ice on the inside of your windows..

I agree HSB, shovelling snow is therapeutic and good exercise.. instill some pride and show your fellow man that at least outside your own home you care enough about others to not let them slip and fall.. you can't teach good manners though.

I am not sure how it could be policed but people shouldn't be allowed to drive their cars unless all weather or snow tyres are fitted! It would also help if people were educated into how to drive differently in the snow BUT seeing as we can't even force people to drive properly on the Motorway daily then there is no chance of this.
Every time it snows I have had to wait for some clown to acclerate and wheel spin as much as they can to try and get up a slight hill. Me? The SIMPLE answer is to put all weather tyres (Vredestein Quatrac 3) or even snow tyres on (Vredestein Extreme) and you will have a safe journey.
NOTE:- don't just put them on the front because your Front will stick while the rear will come around to join you!
Oh and if driving a flash Merc e.t.c. that is rear wheel drive then 100% don't try to leave the drive because your car is cr4p in the snow, at worst get proper tyres and forget about your low profile tyres!

When I was a kid everyone used to have open fires and throw the ashes and clinker onto the roads to disperse the snow. What a mess when it all melted away! There were a lot less cars then though and they were much lighter and therefore easier to push out of slippery situations. Why not just all stay at home and enjoy the chill, or if you must, get a PC and do some work at home. All together now.........Oh, the weather outside is frightful...but in here its so delightful..........
....!