UK v Scandinavia - Snow

[Arginald Valleywater]

We get a few days worth and are screwed. Scandinavia, Canada and the northern states of the USA get 5 months of several foot drifts and life goes on as normal. Why do we get caught out every time there is more than a few flakes?

[Nob3y]

A lot of people including myself are asking these questions.
Everything comes to a halt everytime it snows.

Is it a case that as a country we cant be bothered to plan ahead and get things in place?
Is there no money put aside by government to have systems/equipment ready because we are more worried about throwing money to other countries and for lining the pockets of MP's ?

I get fed up of it,every year the same.And we all moan about it but nothing ever gets done.
Its not like the snow sneaks up is it? this time the weather reports all warnned of snow well in advance.Its as if goverment thought the weather people were joking or crying wolf.

[Bob Singleton]

It's simple economics really.

If you know that you are going to have a solid 3 - 5 months of snow each and every year then you buy the equipment to deal with the conditions, either as a private individual (clothing footwear, studded tyres, snow chains etc) or as a local or national government (snow ploughs for road and rail, gritting salt, etc)

In spite of the "chaos" caused by the current weather, we don't get enough snow on a regular basis (although the last few years may suggest we ARE now doing so) for long enough to warrant the extra expenditure on specialist equipment at a time when many services are already facing cuts.

How many of you would say OK to your local council cutting the number of fire fighters and teachers but spending an extra ?250,000 on a few snow ploughs that, for 355 days a year, will lie idle?

[jimslip]

I blame the Tories! We never had weather like this under New Labour. I think it's a simple matter of the Gods being furious at Tory Cuts and are now wreaking their vengeance on all of us!

Please note the weather on Bondi Beach, in Oz at the moment, where a Labour Government is in charge!:
[img]http://www.ideal-sydney-getaways.com/im ... _girls.jpg[/img]

Not a snow flake in sight!!wink!

[Nob3y]

Simple economics?

On the news it has been said this country is looing upto a billion punds a day because of this snow.

How simple do you want it?
Get things in place to keep the country moving
or
leave it and loose money?

[dimi]

I had 100 grams of Polonium 210 on the Russians winning it

[dimi]

^ wrong topic !blush!!tumbleweed!

[sparky]

I agree it is unrealistic for the UK to have the level of dedicated equipment and resources that Scandinavia, Canada etc have when it may not be needed for even one day some years.

However we ought to have plans plus sufficient adaptable equipment and resources to clear and keep clear and safe motorways, major road routes and major railway routes.

The case of those passengers stranded overnight on the London to Brighton main railway line was totally inexcusable. A recovery engine should have reached the train in a couple of hours to take it even at 20mph back to the nearest major station if not on to the destination station.

[dimi]

You should try living in Hampshire, our council does not seem the slightest bothered.