Bromley snow clearance scheme could be rolled out nationwide (From News Shopper)

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  Len Kivingstone wrote:
  I was very critical of Bromley Council (in particular Cllr Colin Smith) during the winter of 2010/11 for the way that they mishandled the heavy snow clearance which was forecast days in advance. However they deserve credit for the vast improvement in the way that this winter's snow was cleared and also for this "Snow Friends" initiative.

  Possibly best for me to quit whilst I'm 1/2 in front LK, but I need to be quite clear on winter 2010/11.
  
  If the same quantity of snow falls at some point in the future, during or immediately preceding the rush hour during the working week, exactly the same thing would almost happen again, even given weeks of advance notice.
  
  In short, unless Councils across the Country of all and any political persuasions gear up significantly in terms of extra kit, trained drivers, salt supplies and storage facilities (which could then potentially sit unused in warehouses for 10/15 years) little will, even can change. That said, even if were to invest, it would only arguably serve a questionable strategic value as the problem then morphs to the gritters becoming stuck in traffic jams on major roads, rendering them inoperational at the peak of the weather event.
  
  As a final aside on 2010/11 it is a fact that the Council's gritters were out the night before and during the early hours of the morning again when the very well forecast snow started to fall. We were ready and pro-active.
  
  Each of the lorries is tracked by Global Tracking so we not only know where they are, but also quite litterly how much salt they are dispensing to the second.
  
  The problem that day was the volume of snow falling running into the rush hour.So much fell that vehicles simply couldn't move, (with others blocking roads) a necessary function for the (laying) salt to perform its function properly by being ground together with the snow by passing traffic.
  
  The final aggravating factor being that tempertures remained sub zero for days afterwards, frustrating any prospect of an early thaw.
  
  Our Snow Friends (another thank you to one and all) purpose is a little different, serving as they do their side roads rather than main arteries themselves.
  
  Another big headache in 2010 was the simple fact that some residents, especially those living on roads with hills simply couldn't get out of their turnings at least by car, the moment that the snow began turned to ice.
  
  The plan is if we can work together with volunteer groups and make their circumstances a little easier by enabling them to get around and keep their own streets more accessible, that will at least be a helpful and practical start..
  
  Heated pavements would be the best solution of all of course :)"
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