Apologies for returning to the weather - but been out locally again this morning and it has to be said once more that the pavements right across Ward 9 ... from Fountainbridge all the way up to Craiglockhart ... are a complete disgrace.I've got nothing but praise for the Council staff trying to help - they're doing the best job they can - but there are simply not enough resources being applied to the overall task.
In Fountainbridge - within the Controlled Parking Zone - several people are asking what the 100's of Parking Attendant's are currently doing? It's a very good question ... they're certainly not operating as normal at the moment as most lines are completely covered in snow!
Have they been 'asked' to assist clearing pavements instead? Okay - they may not work 'directly' for the Local Authority but they could well be amenable to a bit of civic goodwill??
Indeed, the clearest pavement areas are those where businesses and residents have done the work themselves ... several are now asking me about previous bye-laws which 'encouraged' (not compelled) local businesses and residents to clear their own frontages? Again, I doubt very much if those in charge politically have even considered the implications of re-introducing such a bye-law??
I'm afraid that the whole winter-weather response, over the last couple of weeks, just seems to have completely lacked any form of such lateral-thinking :-((
4 comments:
I know I keep harping on about how the City of Perth clears there Streets and Pavements effectively. With diggers and trucks they remove tonnes of snow from the roads and the have small pavement plows too.
But you can aways say but thats a small city and yes you are right. If Edinburgh is so large that a centralise control system can not work effectively then why not break the problem down. Edinburgh was made up of a collection of villages linked to the city centre. Then why not setup equipment and gritting facilities in more localised centres with in the town ,which when activated, would serve the people within a given area. Their depots sited on main arterial routes so deliveries of salt and grit can be made via the Docks. Management of each site should be done by people with local knowledge of the area the serve.
Motorways and City bypasses should be services by a National Resillience Team rather that local councils.
Good stock levels of grit would enable blanket coverage of roads and pavements.
The cost of treating a broken leg is around £3000-6000 , add the cost of work time lost ,visitor car parking fees and sick pay to that then multiply that by the numbers of winter related injuries (no doubt the NHS can furnish you with that figure und a FOI request) then ask how much road clearing equipment ,manpower & supplies could be purchased now with that money. Then work out how much it would save each year if the roads were cleared and fully gritted.
I reckon that the city could be cleared within a few days if the operated a system like that.
So Mr Burns, if you're so concerned why has it taken you so long to clear outside your own home !!!!!
this has an effect on your neighbours especailly the elderly , visually impaired and mothers pushing pushchairs.
Your comment in the guardian was interesing . But why don't you lead by example.
Alex
You could well have a point about the over-centralisation of winter operations ...
... and I completely agree that the long-term costs of 'not' taking effective action are potentially dire.
Andrew
Anonymous
Fair enough point - path outside my house is though clear now.
Thanks for checking out the blog.
Andrew
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