Britain's vanishing stocks of grit are set to dwindle further as more blizzards sweep in and temperatures plummet again.
With no end yet in sight to the freezing weather, emergency measures have already been put in place to reduce the 60,000 tonnes used each day by councils across the country.
Local authorities have been forced to cut their use of grit salt by a quarter so stocks last and the Highways Agency has decided not to grit the hard shoulder of motorways in an effort to prioritise supplies.
Stocks will be monitored closely, with the national situation reassessed at the highest level on Tuesday when the Government's "Salt Cell" next meets to direct the distribution of new supplies.
The situation has led to Tories accusing the Government of "utter failure".
Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "This is an admission of utter failure. The lessons of last February's extreme weather have not been learnt.
"The Government has failed to build up a strategic Highways Agency reserve and Labour ministers have sat on their hands instead of putting measures in place to safeguard grit supplies. The Government appears to be rapidly losing control of the situation."
Her comments were rejected by Transport Minister Lord Adonis, who held a meeting on Thursday with Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as representatives of the Highways Agency, Network Rail, the Association of Train Operating Companies and the National Grid.
With the UK's two domestic salt suppliers working at full capacity, imports are on order from the Mediterranean and the US. But the first imports are not due to arrive until January 21.
The Local Government Association, which represents town halls, said councils would take "prudent measures" to reduce salt usage while protecting safety and vital services, including reducing gritting to primary road networks, increasing the sharing of salt between neighbouring councils and reducing the amount of salt in treatments.
Someone may correct me but I have a feeling that there is a by law which stops removal of sand from the beach. I know in Devon you're not allowed to remove the pebbles from the pebble rodge on the north Devon coast. The dredgers which take it from off shore will be licensed.
It is against the law to steal sand from the foreshore. So any body who does so will end up on the Slippery slope and have there finger prints taken and there DNA kept for a life time, thats as well as a fine to swell the councils coffers
Last edited by jimbob; 10th Jan 20109:53pm.
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
It is against the law to steal sand from the foreshore. So any body who does so will end up on the Slippery slope and have there finger prints taken and there DNA kept for a life time, thats as well as a fine to swell the councils coffers
But that's why its taken in the first place, to put on a slippery slope.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
It is against the law to steal sand from the foreshore. So any body who does so will end up on the Slippery slope and have there finger prints taken and there DNA kept for a life time, thats as well as a fine to swell the councils coffers
I sat and watched a gritter going around in circles for 30mins in a lil carpark the other day, and they wonder why the roads aint done..
It was probably the guy that crashed getting some refresher training!
There's a real danger that the left will drag Britain back to the 1970s, with secure well-paid jobs, ample housing, properly-funded NHS and social care, free tuition, student grants, final salary pensions, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. David Osland 2025
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