Is it fair to compare Us to the rest of the world

[milly143]

On the news this morning they were reading out viewers comments. Some of those comments went along the lines of it being pathetic that the UK comes to a stand still when other countries in Scandanavia, Canada and Russia cope perfectly well.

Is it fair to compare our way of dealing with the snow with countries that have this weather for months every year?

[China Doll]

It doesn't seem a particularly fair comparrison.

[Bobbisox]

No, probably not milly, they, the countries such as Scandanavia and Russia, know when their Winters will start and how bad they get, we don't

[jno]

no. We have unpredictable weather; Siberia and Timbuktu do not. What's the point of having expensive snow clearing equipment we might only use for five days a year, or not at all?

Still, it's open to question whether we've made the best use of what we have. I gather the government's setting up some sort of inquiry. You'll probably find a lot of councillors have helped themselves to the salt supplies to put on their chips.

[funnygirl]

Well why cannot we get tips from these countries on how to cope???!!!

Every year it is the same thing and next year the be the same old story.

[NazNomad]

No, it can't be compared but ...

... it was forecast, as it is every year, yet we still can't be prepared for it, and we only get a fraction of the snowfall those other countries have to deal with.

[Bobbisox]

funnygirl I would assume it's because we are not in the same league as the harsh winters they endure, I think it was about 15 yrs ago when we had a bad one ;-)

[milly143]

I agree with you Jno. Those countries invest in the equipment to clear the snow because they know they will have it every year and it will last for, say 3 months.

In this country, we never know whether we will get snow or not. So we have had couple of bad weeks so far and last year the same. Is it in our interests to spend millions on equipment to be prepared for something that might not happen. I don't think so.

[NazNomad]

Milly, we already have the equipment, it sits idle most of the time.

[jno]

people who say we should be better prepared might like to ask themselves if they have snow tires for their own cars, just in case...

[NazNomad]

Yes, I have a set of studded tyres, should I need them ...

[jno]

well, you can use them anytime of the year for S&M nights down at the bingo hall

[jake-the-peg]

I think people are beggining to see that it's silly to compare us to places like Sweden and Canada.

If they want to compare us to France and Germany that's fair enough.

If we spent billions on snowploughs we all know what the papers would be full of at the first mild winter

[NazNomad]

We already have snowploughs ... they fit to the front of most gritting lorries.

[NazNomad]

http://truck-photos.n...mazonaws.com/2610.jpg

Every see that framework on the front of a gritting lorry? That's where you fit the snowplough ... :-)

[dzug2]

<<If they want to compare us to France and Germany that's fair enough.>>

and parts of France and Germany are in the same trouble as we are - even Switzerland is not immune

[funnygirl]

I once worked in Germany in winter and believe you me, nothing stops and you are expected to show up at work. Roads are cleared. The snow is the same if not heavier.

They have trains, trams, buses and car and they are all on the go!!!!

[TWR]

Well! this is the UK Milly, Billions lost each day, doe that tell you anything?

[andy-hughes]

It is unfair to compare us with other countries in terms of winters, and dealing with them.

Countries like Canada and Russia, and the Scandanavian countries have predictable winters - they know to within a week when the snow will come and how long it will last.

The UK - apart from last year, has had something like seventeen mild winters in a row, and even last year's bad snow arrived in January.

Snow this early and this heavy is rare, and it is not reasonable to expect the government to splash out on masses of snow-clearing equipment which may lie idle for years.

What should be done is the implentation of contracts with farmers to supply them with show clearing shovels for their tractors, which can alleviate some of the ongoing misery in rural areas - i believe they are looking at that idea for future winters.

[carrust]

What should be done is the implentation of contracts with farmers to supply them with show clearing shovels for their tractors, which can alleviate some of the ongoing misery in rural areas - i believe they are looking at that idea for future winters.
That used to be done in some parts of Sheffield & the Peak District, Andy. However, since the health & safety regs came about, most farmers found the insurance prohibitive to carry out snow clearing duties.

[andy-hughes]

That sounds par for the course carrust!