In what is set to be the worst winter conditions for 30 years, here again in Camden, Belsize we have the crazy situation published today in Ham & High that Brent and Camden have RUN OUT OF GRIT.This is a disgraceful situation, with weather predictions now able to achieve long term viable reporting weeks in advance, this simply is unacceptable.
It is notable that in other countries such as in the USA this apparent luck of grit never occurs, the US government is totally proactive in dealing with sever winter extremes. For example in anticipation of certain states currently being hit hard by sub-zero extreme temperature, energy supply companies that have "cut off" people due to failure of being able to pay utility bills have been ordered to re-connect the most needy in advance of worsening conditions.
Clearly lessons can be learned from across the other side of the Atlantic in the USA of how to deal with bad weather.
Closer to home however, I have been informed by local Belsize residents that the luck of grit is not only causing big delays in moving around but is very dangerous.
One local resident has narrowly escaped serious injury or worst when slipping and falling in Fellows Road with an oncoming car out of control unable to break or stop sliding towards the unfortunate pedestrian shouting "Get out of the road I can't stop the car"!
Another resident slipping on ice outside Budgens in Haverstock Hill falling and hitting her head in the process, but escaped serious injury.
We need the gritters out 24/7 NOW and not talk about it as a post review for 2011!
Author: Nigel Rumble (currently on New Year's vacation in USA NOLA)
