Guest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
31 December 2010
13:0986952The message below has been sent to all Parish Councils, Kent MPs, District & County Councillors by the KCC Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste
This winter has been one of the most severe on record and this has resulted in demand outstripping supply for salt across the country. Kent County Council started the winter season with 23,000 tonnes of salt. We use 13,000 tonnes in an average year, in last year's exceptional winter we used 20,000 tonnes. By the 20th December Kent Highway Services had treated the primary network 50 times; this is twice the amount treated compared with this time last year. We used sea sand last winter and found that it increased grip and traction on icy roads which is why we have continued to use sea sand with great effect this year; this has the added benefit of conserving salt.
As part of our forward planning we placed orders for an additional 4000 tonnes of salt in September, for delivery in January. Our stocks at the beginning of this season were greater than the total salt usage in last season's winter. I have asked officers to plan for a worse winter than last year and whilst I am still confident that we will have adequate salt stocks we shall continue to use salt/sea sand on our primary routes and use sea sand for secondary routes and to refill the grit bins and bags supplied to parish councils.
The situation will be reviewed in the New Year. In the meantime discussions are continuing with our suppliers to ensure that they honour our salt orders.
The assistance we have had from district council staff, farmers and parish and town councils has been invaluable and greatly appreciated by local communities across the county.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
31 December 2010
16:1986982missing nigel;
Your govt minister was on TV saying there is/was no shortage of salt and all councils have more than enough supplies, and in the remote case of needing more they can contact him.
He also stated clearly all side smaller roads should be gritted as councils have been provided with enouh salt to do so.
Forumites have clearly stated this didn't happen, the minister added that if side roads are not gritted, it's because the council decided against it
so would be a clear council decision.
could you tell us if this minister is telling porkies????
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
31 December 2010
16:2686984Keith you are correct the side roads were not cleared .On Christmas Eve an Ambulance had to be pushed up Lyndhurst Road .I gather the young patient died the next day having arrived home for Christmas .
My daughter in law had to clear a pavement so an elderly person not me could get to the bus .
Im fed up with Nick Chard saying how wonderdful everything was v.
I beg to differ A River resident fell in Pencester broke her wrist .
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
31 December 2010
16:3186986On the continent and up north the gritting vehicles have liquid tanks down the side as well as the salt in the centre, don't know if we have them down here but if we have we could use seawater to mix with the grit.
beer the food of the gods
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
31 December 2010
16:4086988well sue i'm sure missing nigel can give us the answers
unless he disappears again
lets wait for the answers
as for nick chard smarmy bloke
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Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
31 December 2010
19:3087056You can see the primary and secondary salting routes here, if you haven't got a blue or red line down your street then presumably you won't get salted -
http://extranet7.kent.gov.uk/SaltingRoutes/Map.aspxGuest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
2 January 2011
13:0687242Thanks for the comments folks.
Keith - not missing - I just chose to make some changes in my lifestyle like going to new and different places and meeting new people.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
2 January 2011
13:1187245no answers then nigel
thanks
sure people will remember that.
no problem meeting new people
nice for you
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Guest 682- Registered: 19 Jan 2009
- Posts: 146
2 January 2011
13:2187248The thanks is for the comments given so that an overall view can be seen and I can comment in the appropriate places whenever I get chance.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
2 January 2011
13:2687251thats a no then?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 January 2011
16:4287270Why are you so argumentative Keith.
As Howard has said your apparant vendetta against Nigel does you no credit and makes you look and sound like an A.H.
Roger
Guest 695- Registered: 30 Mar 2010
- Posts: 426
2 January 2011
17:4687302Well said Roger, seems there's a definite vendetta against Nigel. He didn't have to come on here and with personal comments against him such as I've read I'd not be surprised if he stopped.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 January 2011
17:5487309Thanks Tony - I hope Nigel doesn't stop.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
2 January 2011
17:5987312okay
this post is not directed at any one in paticular
can any tory who posts on here who has the answer let us know
if the government minister says there was no shortage of salt, and all side roads could have been gritted and it was down to local councils priorities
is this ministers statement correct or not?
posters on here have indicted the minister is incorrrect
while others have said there was a shortfall and kcc decided to do major roads first and thus side roads wrre never done
fair question me thinks
not directed at anyone
just in reply to a postings that stated there was a shortage
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
2 January 2011
18:2787321My straight answer is that I think it is expecting too much for EVERY path and road to be gritted in the whole of the county - Kent Country Council has 5000 miles of roads and 4000 miles of footpaths to deal with and that is before adding the Highways Agency roads, council carparks, etc, etc.
Been nice knowing you :)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
2 January 2011
18:3487322thankyou paul a direct reply
so the minister lied?
or if thats to painful for some
he bent the truth
i only challenged things as lots of posters were on here moaning side roads/pats not gritted and put ministers statement on here
which the minister still stands by
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
2 January 2011
19:2387339Keith, look at my posting #6 with the KCC salting routes link, it is never the intention to salt every road. And this has been the heaviest snowfall for 40 years so even getting extra in over last year it is unsurprising that some councils are running low.
I'm not commenting on what the minister said unless you provide quotes or a link.
