Gritting.

matthew barter · Dec 5, 2010

I've only got anecdotal evidence about gritting but it does surprise me that enviromental groups haven't (or at least haven't suceeded) bringing to the fore about the damage that gritting does to the enviroment. They are now adding molasses to the mix. This apparently makes the salt go further. What greater or lesser damage does this do to the rivers?

S-Kippy · Dec 5, 2010

Is there a viable alternative ? Given the conditions whatever they put down isn't going to do any good. Is there such a thing as eco-friendly grit ?

Jeff Woodhouse · Dec 5, 2010

I've heard they pre-wet the mixture now with water, gives the salt a start in breaking down. First I've heard of molasses though, they'll have the horses and dogs licking the road!

peter crabtree · Dec 5, 2010

if there was no gritting the roads I would be unable to get to work.
It is nothing new, councils have been gritting roads for many years.
every winter the question arises ,where does all the salt end up?
Yes it ends up in our rivers and it washes away, but can anyone prove it did any long term damage?
Many rivers are tidal, and inevitably salty or brackish water must enter the systems , are these areas devoid of fish?
and if I can't get to work I can't afford to go fishing......

jimmy crackedcorn · Dec 5, 2010

Whats a gritter ????

Yours sincerely

Iced-in in S. Yorks/NE Derbyshire border.

Jeff Woodhouse · Dec 5, 2010

jimmy crackedcorn said:
Whats a gritter ????

A vehicle for spreading grit, of which Bucks has lots of, but can't afford the grit. Hence little gritting in our area!

Mind you, no snow to speak of either, but I'm not jealous. You can keep it.

geoffmaynard · Dec 5, 2010

Jeff Woodhouse said:
I've heard they pre-wet the mixture now with water, gives the salt a start in breaking down. First I've heard of molasses though, they'll have the horses and dogs licking the road!

And if they stick to it, the resulting traffic jams could be catastrophic, especially if they have tongues like [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McSYuPCDxBg"]this one[/ame]:

904_cannon · Dec 5, 2010

Cant say that I've seen much evidence of gritters up here.

Last year and this the local Health Authority gave £1m to the County Council specifically to help clear the minor roads and footpaths in major strategic areas, like schools and doctors surgeries, in the hope it would cut down accidents/broken bones. Friday I had to dig myself (car) out on three occasions just getting to the doctors and back.

nick dv · Dec 6, 2010

Gritters, what gritters? Been telling us the last couple of weeks how they have new mini gritters, a million extra tons of grit etc, etc, and guess what no gritters, and the news reporter saying how once again the councils were caught out by the weather!

Probably saving it all for the bad weather!

Whatever next, leaves on the line.................................?

Cheers, Nick

jimmy crackedcorn · Dec 6, 2010

We have had a gritter our way - along the main road through our village - which is flat. All the roads off (most of them bus routes, and none of them really minor) have been left to it, mainly the preserve of 4x4 drivers as some of them are quite steep.

Side roads off those on our estate have been dug out be residents, as the main road though the estate has started to melt under the sun and the traffic of the normally maligned 4x4s.

The bad one · Dec 6, 2010

Might want to read this
Most Road Salt Is Making It Into Lakes And Rivers

flightliner · Dec 6, 2010

jimmy crackedcorn said:
Whats a gritter ????

Its some poor sod living on a side road looking for salt in an empty grit bin that was never filled in the first place. On sunday all the fit guys on my road were out shovelling eighteen inches of snow for about four hours, there are piles of the stuff ten feet hi now!
I hope the council knocks it off there council tax(some fat chance)!!

904_cannon · Dec 6, 2010

Heard a BBC R5 roaming reporter saying that a chap on the road he lives had hired a snow plough and waggon to shift the snow and ice and would be going round the neighbours asking for contributions to cover the costs.

When asked what would happen if people didn't want to contribute? Reply was, there is about 3/4 mile of snow and ice and it has to go somewhere. Kind of implying it would be dumped in front of the none payers houses

Gritting.

matthew barter

Well-known member

S-Kippy

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Jeff Woodhouse

Moaning Marlow Meldrew

peter crabtree

AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)

jimmy crackedcorn

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Jeff Woodhouse

Moaning Marlow Meldrew

geoffmaynard

Content Editor

904_cannon

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nick dv

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jimmy crackedcorn

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The bad one

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flightliner

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904_cannon

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