Injury saving flotation suit

[Charlton]

as we all know it was abit icy today, took my time driving to my sons to pick his dog up for walkies, got out the car, put the alarm on, WHAM, the next thing i knew i was trying to get up after lying there out cold, not sure how long, going off when I left home and phone calls to me missus must have been a few minutes, with my sons neighbour assisting me. Feeling a bit groggy she wouldn't let me drive, rightly so, gave me a cuppa and took me home, picked the missus up and away to A & E. Thankfully all was alright and just told to rest and not drive till tomorrow. but what saved me from caving my head in was my floatation suit, I wear it when it is cold when taking dog out, the hood was nicely folded across the back of my head and saved me splitting it open. Got to the A & E there where loads there with split heads, broken arms, legs, wrists etc and more coming all the time. But could a lot of this have been prevented, my son actaully phoned the council, as his father in law and mother and law had fell in the same area (no harm thankfull) they said they where keeping the bus routes open only. Obvioulsy thinking of their own budget, but if they had salted the paths and roads in the areas needed just think of the saving to the NHS, false ecconomy North Tyneside.
Before you say anything Bob, yes I have a thick skull and they found nothing in it.

[The Great Wallsendo]

Good news on staying alive Alan...similar false economy by the council in Wallsend as well...very icy roads that hadn't seen any grit by the looks of things...cars (including my own) unable to maintain traction and skidding on the spot trying to get up Station Road

...probably blown the budget on some Icelandic Bank

It's not like they couldn't see it coming

[pottsy]

Good news on staying alive Alan...similar false economy by the council in Wallsend as well...very icy roads that hadn't seen any grit by the looks of things...cars (including my own) unable to maintain traction and skidding on the spot trying to get up Station Road

...probably blown the budget on some Icelandic Bank

It's not like they couldn't see it coming

North Tyneside Council gritters were out in Wallsend - passed me this morning at half 7 and no the Council didnt invest in Icelandic Banks

Glad to hear you are ok Alan

[Charlie_Thompson]

Glad you're ok Alan - I heard the same story at work today about A&E being full of fallers. They started gritting our place in Wallsend at 10:00am and only decided to do our bit after threats of violence from "The Quality Manager". I however have no problem, being half Hobbit I just took the Gucci Loafers off in the car and minced hairy foot into the office.

[The Great Wallsendo]

North Tyneside Council gritters were out in Wallsend - passed me this morning at half 7 and no the Council didnt invest in Icelandic Banks

Glad to hear you are ok Alan

My supervisor who lives on Tynemouth Road said she'd seen one but I have honestly yet to see one...I know's you and CT are in the Cooncil - any chance you can divert 'em round the streets near Burnside High?

[pottsy]

Honest the lads who drive the gritters are out all hours and no the council car parks dont get gritted - they are too busy out there doing the roads I will pass on your request

[Charlie_Thompson]

My supervisor who lives on Tynemouth Road said she'd seen one but I have honestly yet to see one...I know's you and CT are in the Cooncil - any chance you can divert 'em round the streets near Burnside High?

In the Cooncil - ya radge

Work for the thing that's it m8 - I'll slap young Harrison up side the head next time he's round mine for tripe and teacakes.

[luckylady]

i also disagree with this bus route only rule, although i do live on a bus route. i drove past two primary schools this morning and neither was gritted. if any bairn steps out there flattend

[The Great Wallsendo]

No sign of any gritter action on:

Station Road
Whitley Road
The Great Lime Road

pretty major Bus Routes as far as I'm aware...

...grumpy email sent

[pottsy]

I have passed on your comments and concerns to Paul Hanson, Strategic Director at North Tyneside Council
The situation in North Tyneside Council is -

Last night, between 6pm and 10pm, North Tyneside Council gritted 240 miles of priority routes. The Met Office predicted snowfall at around 3am today, therefore additional gritting was carried out from midnight until 5am.
Following a revised forecast at 5am, the 240-mile network was gritted again between 5am and 7.30am. In total, the council has distributed 240 tonnes of rock salt within the last 24 hours. Eight gritting vehicles are currently operating across the borough, ploughing and gritting where necessary, and will continue to do so as long as conditions require.
Clean Neighbourhoods staff are also gritting priority areas such as schools and sheltered accommodation.

[5150]

A&E at Wansbeck was chocker yesterday, almost all slips on the ice. One old guy was brought in, back of his head looked like JFK after the shooting.

[The Great Wallsendo]

Consider me told....

The Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on the Highway Authority to take
reasonable steps to remove accumulations of snow or ice from the highway.

Winter Maintenance is important in terms of both the economy and road
safety - it is carried out to ensure the safe movement of all highway users
including buses, cars, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. It is
economically significant because of the delays that bad weather can cause.

To comply with the requirements of the Act North Tyneside Council has
designated some 240 miles of highway to receive priority treatment under
the Winter Maintenance Scheme and has set a performance target of a two
hour response / treatment time for all such designated roads.

We have carried out the following action since Thursday 27 November 2008

Thursday 27 November 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Friday 28 November 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Saturday 29 November 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Sunday 30 December 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Monday 1 December 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Tuesday 2 December 08 Early morning salt (treatment of the whole
network) between 05:00 to 09:00
Tuesday 2 December 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Wednesday 3 December 08 Early morning salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 05:00 to 15:00
Wednesday 3 December 08 Pre Salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 18:00 to 22:00
Thursday 3 December 08 Early morning salt (treatment of the whole network)
between 05:00 to ongoing

Unfortunately it is not reasonably practicable to grit every road and
footpath within the Borough. However, we are making every attempt to get
around as many as the non priority routes as possible. The difficulty we
had was rain falling onto roads at 05:30 on to sub zero temperatures
causing widespread ice.

I can also confirm that some vehicles are fitted with vehicle tracking and
I was personally in a vehicle carrying out gritting in the Wallsend area
last night.

I hope the above clarifies the situation.

Regards

Well there you gan

[pottsy]

See I told you they were out there I have just followed a gritter driving on Hadrian Park now.

It is winter folks and it is the uk so snow shouldn't have us all in a mad panic. The media don't help by hyping it up. We have only had a couple of inches so it just means we have to be sensible and allow extra time for journeys and drive slowly and steadily. Wrap up warm and wear sensible footwear or even better stay home in the warm

[The Great Wallsendo]

It's not me I'm worried about in the snowy conditions it's other drivers who scare the s*** out of me - when they flee along as if the conditions are ok.

My Mum and step-dad have been snowed in, in Yorkshire this afternoon...they built a snowman

anywho...it's all melting now anyway

[Charlton]

See I told you they were out there I have just followed a gritter driving on Hadrian Park now.

It is winter folks and it is the uk so snow shouldn't have us all in a mad panic. The media don't help by hyping it up. We have only had a couple of inches so it just means we have to be sensible and allow extra time for journeys and drive slowly and steadily. Wrap up warm and wear sensible footwear or even better stay home in the warm

it's odd how in the UK we get a few inches and we grind to a halt, other countries get a a couple of feet and cope no problem. maybe the council should go back to putting the yellow boxes of grit all over the place.