Road salt shortage

[hoosn]

plenty a golfs, nae ladas thankfully

[unlinkedstudent]

^^I think I heard on the news last week that some salt is being imported from Egypt.

 

To a certain extent, I can understand local authorities being reluctant to hand over salt (but not 100%). From what I gather from the news/media (and naturally, unsure as to how much of it is true), I have gleaned a certain amount of understanding; however, I still get confused as to what covers Scotland and how much is England/Wales due to parliamentary structures:

 

Westminster forms Salt Cell and says to Local Authorities we want some salt off X, Y and Z Councils to give to A, B and C Councils. Prior to that, Councils met and, following Westminster advice, got in 8(?) days reserves whereas the Highways Agency had been told to have 15(?) days reserves.

 

Now X, Y and Z Councils had got their acts together after last year's fiascos, got supplies, followed the weather forecasts (which didn't predict such heavy snowfall) and when stocks started to dilapidate, placed further orders with salt mine. Harrow Council ordered only to have their order not arrive and then after formation of Salt Cell, their order was cancelled by the salt supplier.

 

At the same time, some of the A, B and C Councils didn't get their acts together at all but got hit by snow. Along comes Salt Cell and says not to worry, we'll re-allocate from other local authorities' pre-arranged orders and you can have it. Other A, B and C Councils had got their acts together but due to weather forecasts being inaccurate, hadn't ordered enough so hence a degree of sympathy for them.

 

I must admit, if I was one of the X, Y and Z Councils I may be feeling a tad miffed. Whilst I would be happy to assist those Councils that had done all that they could on the information provided, I wouldn't be totally happy assisting those that had not got off their backsides (if they had the funding resources to do so). Who says maladministration doesn't pay?

[MuckleJoannie]

The benefit of hindsight!

 

Councils ignored cheap road salt offer

 

Up to 30 councils spurned an offer last year of thousands of tonnes of de-icing salt at a reduced price, to use on the roads this winter, the BBC has learned.

 

British Salt Director David Stephen made the offer from its 60,000 tonnes stockpile in April but had no takers

[Para Handy]

Go to Tesco's and buy a tub of salt under the buy one get one free offers

[Para Handy]

is there any other source for salt than cheshire. there must be other places with spare capacity.

 

Did you know that Ireland has a big salt mine. How do I know this?

There was a program on BBC2 about it for the open university last year

[Twerto]

also that is where most of our salt came from last year when we ran out. ^^

[gavva]

Do I note an anti Scottish much akin to the anti English sentiment which the Scottish folk are renowned for???

 

mmmmm....... all adds up now!!!!

[Ghostrider]

^^ Only to Scots who have a little power, and abuse it. They've sung from the same hymn sheet for over 500 years. Just payback for history and doing on to others as they have a long established track record of doing onto you.

[shetlandpeat]

is there any other source for salt than cheshire. there must be other places with spare capacity.

 

There was a time factor with Cheshire, planning laws dictated that it could only have HGV access during the day due to houses nearby, I think that has now been lifted..

[paulb]

the poor beggers. think of the noise.

[Siffy]

Between Christmas and New Year the council shipped 100 tonnes of grit to Orkney to help out their gritting teams as stocks ran low. Last February Orkney made a similar gesture, sending 200 tonnes north when Shetland ran out of road salt.

Full Article - Here

We gave away 100 tonnes of Grit to Orkney already.