How many more bad winters before we take action?

[jake-the-peg]

People like to beef and moan on the "2 snowflakes and the country comes to a halt" theme.

Well it's a popular whinge but I guess we all know that kitting up like Sweden would cost a lot of money.

So let's ask it another way - suppose we could keit up like that ant it would cost us an extra 10% on our council tax bills.

How many more years like this one and the last would be need to have before you'd be ready to cough up?

Or would you do that deal now? or is 10% more too much ever to be worth 2-3 weeks of disruption.

(Picked 10% out of the air. If you've a better idea of the true figure do let us know)

[237SJ]

We shouldn`t have any money added to our council tax bills because the train companies, airlines and airport authorities are privately owned.

[Count-A-Strong]

I think you've forgotten to factor in the money going into the economy through increased production / GDP due to people being able to get to work and shops which would seriously offset the cost of the kit.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes well we all want something for nothing don't we?

How much are you actually willing to cough up if you want an improvement?

[cazzz1975]

the thing is with british weather is that next year may be mild, you can never tell, there is no ongoing trend other than last year and this year.

I feel I am already paying a fortune for bugger all as it is :(

[jackthehat]

I have no confidence that having surrendered an additional proportion of my salary in the hope of creating a better 'bad weather' infra-structure.........it would actually be fit for purpose on the occasions it was required.

[mike11111]

I think that for the majority of people we're talking about spreading a bit grit on the roads and pavements. No big deal, and certainly wouldn't break the bank. Unfortunately in North Tyneside we are one of the few areas to suffer from an elected Mayor. This is the third time in less than twelve months that she has failed to make a timely response to bad weather, in order to ensure that the elderly and infirm can go about their daily business in relative safety. Sill, I must congratulate her on achieving something which no-one else has been able to do for the past forty years: persuading me to vote Labour at the next council elections.

[modeller]

Assuming we were to spend tens of £millions on equipment which might not be needed for another 15 years how about all the other events which occur as infrequently . Floods , droughts, coastal erosion, rising sea levels, How about the hurricane of 1987 whch destroyed 15m trees and insurance claims exceeded £2 billion .
These disasters could have been mitegated if we had spent tens of millions in advance. All this equipment would have to be maintained , tested and updated to make sure it was ready for use whenever one of these events occurred, be it 15,50, or a hundred years from now.

[R1Geezer]

no action is necessary, this weather is rare for us, just deal with it when it happens. Fire the Elf and safetee mafia and get on with it like we used to. when I was at school we where never ever ever sent home, even when the boiler broke we just sat in coats. Give the teachers a kick up the arris and get them in. We always had this weathe from time to time, it's just that the threat of litigation and over zelous elf and safetee mob means we carry on like a bunch of fish out of water. Put a few more grit hoppers on stree corners if you like but no need for major action. So no jake I would not want 10% on my council tax.

[R1Geezer]

the trouble with 10% or whatever jake is that once it's on it's on and compounded for ever. That 10% will rise as the rest rises and we may not need the extra for 10 years. British weather is famously variable.

[jake-the-peg]

I tend to agree Geezer.

You know what would happen the moment we spent a couple of billion on snow ploughs and the like.

The first mild weather and the tabloids would be full of "white elephants stories"

[R1Geezer]

just watched the news and even Moscow is having problems and they have 9000 snow ploughs! CDG in France just showed a Irish woman Bawling out a the transport minister so I guess we are not the only ones have a bit of trouble. Apparently BAA have ordered some new snow ploughs from somewhere they are starting tomorrow.

[R1Geezer]

OK jake what's the catch? I always get nervous when you start agreeing with me, In case you are baiting a trap!

[modeller]

There is also the other side of the problem if we quadrupled ( which has been suggested ) the number of snow ploughs and gritters to be made available, that would also require 4 times the labour force . What do you do with them during the 15 years when we don't them ?

[Count-A-Strong]

Let them carry on as teachers?

[joko]

where are all the yellow grit boxes on street corners?

im sure many would happily grit their paths an pavements by filling a bucket or 2 ....every little helps...