Snow alert sees States Works on weekend patrols
Friday 22nd February 2013, 10:00AM GMT.
The island had a dusting of snow in the middle of January. Public Services are preparing for more this weekend.
STATES Works patrols will be out monitoring road conditions from 3am each morning this weekend because the Met Office has issued a snow alert for the island.
The division of Public Services has three lorry demountable gritters, plus a number of smaller pedestrian gritting machines.
However, patrols will only treat roads where there are known or reported black ice spots.
Rock salt is used in the UK to melt snow and ice. However, Public Services said this could not be used in Guernsey.
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Beware of the snow grains…
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There’s nothing more annoying than being ‘gritted’ whilst I am walking to work!
So much better when the pavements are gritted instead!
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I wouldn’t worry about it Peeps, I doubt there’ll be any measurable accumulation. The forecast is for scattered snow showers. Much like I witnessed this morning. It would have to snow in that way for a good 12 hours before you noticed any formation of ice.
Which is a shame as it’s the weekend tomorrow and I want to take some photographs of Guernsey in the snow.
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I feel very daft now, I just realised what you were saying.
Thank god it’s Friday!
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I hope that the powers that be make the ONLY sensible decision & make an announcement soon that all schools will be closed on Monday, as a precautionary measure. I’m off to Waitrose (other stores are available), to panic buy all the Bread, Milk & Eggs…and Southern Comfort!
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Presumably the Southern Comfort is for melting all the snow?
I might get into my bomb shelter for the weekend just in case the HUGE quantities of snow causes mass cannablism.
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I may be more inclined to discuss snow in a slightly more favourable light if it falls at a convenient time- I know it’s probably impossible to influence when it occurs, but I did get quite irate when the last lot caused traffic chaos as this gave me a mood that I think may have hindred me from achieving my desired result in the exam I had to do that morning.
If there is substantial snow, I probably won’t go outside anyway- I have much more useful things to be getting on with than building snowmen. The prospect, however, of snowball fights is somewhat more appealing.
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Not really sure why you would think anyone is interested in you mood swings due to a bit of snow Ed. But i recommend a nice cup of tea in some tranquil surroundings just before exams start :)
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You may not appreciate it in much of a fun sense but there are other reasons for enjoying the snow.
I enjoy it for the science behind it. The beauty of our scenery is amplified even more when there is snow on the ground. It really is a natural marvel that scientists struggle to recreate in labs.
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encore…the black doom shadow of “Health and Safety”, waits to cast its evil way over the British isles,lawyers rubbing their hands together in glee, waiting for the claims to roll in from a litigation crazed nation(the American sickness), police blasting out requests for us to stay in our houses,like we were incapable beings, unable to take responsibility for ourselves.And
right on cue…the rest of Europe, and Scandinavia looking on in utter disbelief, as the British isles does what it does best, collapse in a “white heap”,”Oh,les Anglais” panick buying,closing schools,airports flying to a halt…public transport stops,and the bin men to whimpy to collect the rubbish ! Glad i’m able to travel a bit, and see how real nations just get on with it..mon dieu,les pauvre “roast beef”!
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The simple fact of the matter is Charlie G, we don’t get snow as often as the rest of Europe. We get less than Jersey even. Why waste loads of money on becoming well equipped?
If we bought a fleet of snow plows and gritters I bet you’d complain that it was a waste of money as indeed it would be.
In other parts of Europe (those that aren’t so close to the gulf stream) they get regular snow, being well equipped is a necessity.
The big problem over here (apart from airports closing) is the fact that no one seems to know how to drive when it’s a bit icy. Purely down to the fact that it doesn’t snow often enough for them to get sufficient practise.
I love how people come out saying the same things every time there is even a hint of snow.
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…respect your comment entirely,oh dear.. Yep, it’s crazy to spend huge sums of money on equipment,that would hardly be used,especialy on our islands,and yep, people here don’t get enough experience of “Blanche neige” ice driving. However, read into my comment,it’s not about “equipment”,but the fact since the UK and these Islands got caught up, in the madness of Health and Safety,(happily we didn’t have that in my time),the British isles has slowly turned into a “mamby pamby” society,with a population seemingly unable to, take responsibility of their own actions,but blaming everyone else.I was attending school here, in the days of proper winters,the famous one being in ’63…schools stayed open, people got to work,and busses operated!..why do most schools close now in the UK, for a natural season like winter? simple,cause the education system is scared crazy, (rightly so) of many of todays parents, jumping up and down threatening litigation against the school, (and the poor teachers), ’cause the “offspring” slipped over and grazed a knee etc,get a grip ,it’s called growing up !
As for driving in the white stuff…i use winter tyres (non studded) all year round,fitted by a small local tyre company,at surprisingly low cost,just reduce speed a little in summer rains,(as advised by a scandinavian tyre specialist).
I’m a freight driver here,but also hauled goods all over Europe,as far as Norway and Finland,in winter conditions the British Isle’s couldn’t imagine! One of the joys of the Scandinavian visits was to witness,kids as young as 5 walking, or ski’ing to school in those incredible frozen winter scenes, (dressed in gear also readily available in the UK),and parents quite happy about the whole thing,no question about closing the schools,or not going to work,and no authorities telling them to stay indoors…and no madness of Health and Safety !! Voila.
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