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3:10pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009
Freezing conditions have brought travel chaos across Hampshire today.
A series of crashes on major routes across the region has brought casualties and tailbacks.
Among the accidents, was one on the M27 westbound near Rownhams services, involving up to 20 vehicles.
It closed the motorway in that direction until just after 9am.
There was also a major accident on the Millbrook flyover into Southampton city centre, which has caused tailbacks and shut the road for several hours. It was reopened by 11am.
What do you think? Did they grit enough near you? Send us your weather stories and pictures. Email newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk
First Bus has cancelled services in Titchfield and Southampton.
Wilts and Dorset buses are also not running in Lymington.
There are delays to all Bluestar and Uni-link services in Southampton, with some services avoiding certain stops due to ice.
Baby Bluestar services F, H1, H2, H3, T1 and T2 have all been temporarily suspended as have Bluestar routes 10 and 11.
Passengers have been advised to get to stops on main roads for most journeys.
First buses were all cancelled between 7am and 11am, before many were later reinstated.
Taxi's are still operating in the city, although with limited numbers, Central Shiely cans has a waiting time of two hours, with 30 cars on the road.
West Quay Cars is only taking 12 bookings every 15 minutes to ensure their 28 drivers are safe on the road.
There have been problems on the railways with a train stuck to the line at Sway.
It means South West trains have had to put on a bus to connect Bournemouth to Brockenhurst.
The runway at Southampton Airport has been closed because of ice. As of 10am, four flights had been cancelled while passengers were were experiencing delays of up to two hours. Airport bosses were predicting the airport would reopenlater this morning, weather permitting. Emergency services has issued a warning not to drive unless it is necessary.
A lorry was also reported to have gone into the garden of the Forester Pub in Brockenhust.
The chaos comes after temperatures dropped to minus ten overnight followed by rain this morning.
Roads across Southampton were gritted last night but that was washed away by the rain earlier today meaning highways bosses had to get the gritters out again this morning.
Middle Wallop was one of England's coldest spots overnight at around minus 10C.
Meanwhile two women died and another 47 people were injured after a coach overturned in treacherous icy conditions during what was one of the coldest nights of the year.
The vehicle, which was carrying 48 passengers and a driver back from a trip to see a Christmas lights attraction, left the road and ended up on its side last night near Penzance in Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
A rescue helicopter was called in from RAF Chivenor in Devon to help ferry the wounded people to hospital in Truro.
One of two dead women - who were both from the west Cornwall area - was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died in hospital.
• Southampton Airport has reopened its runway
• First buses in Southampton are operating normally , although the 9A cannot stop on Chessel Avenue.
• Taxis and private hire cars are operating but with reduced numbers.
• Most Bluestar and Unilink services are operating normally, although there are some route alterations on routes 4, 11 and 12. Rote 15 is cancelled.
• Baby Bluestar services F, H1 H2 H3, T1 and T2 have been cancelled.
• In Fareham, Gosport and the Meon Valley, First are running reduced services.
• On the rails, a reduced service is operating between Southampton and Weymouth and Fratton and Eastleigh, via Botley.
Stupideditor, says...
8:18am Wed 23 Dec 09
geordie, says...
8:25am Wed 23 Dec 09
Stupideditor, says...
8:33am Wed 23 Dec 09
Mexeman, Newfoundland, Canada says...
8:39am Wed 23 Dec 09
Sulaiman Al Fahim, UAE says...
8:51am Wed 23 Dec 09
Stupideditor wrote:If Hampshire ambulance didn't take 2 hours in good weather conditions, it would not be an issue, would it?
I hope the daily echo will think twice about reporting any delays from South Central Ambulance attending to OAP falls whilst other people are busy crashing their cars and blocking roads.
southampton_till_i_die09, southampton says...
8:52am Wed 23 Dec 09
Nothing to say, Soton says...
8:53am Wed 23 Dec 09
thesouth, southampton says...
8:55am Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09, Winchester/Eastleigh says...
9:17am Wed 23 Dec 09
Nothing to say, Soton says...
9:37am Wed 23 Dec 09
Hythe, hythe says...
9:40am Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09 wrote:Think that depends where you live! Certainly wasn't quicker coming from the New Forest.
I would like to thank the Media for scaring all the motorists into staying at home. My journey took 20 mins less than normal this morning because no-one was about. People just need to learn how to drive in Ice & Snow
newman76, southampton says...
9:47am Wed 23 Dec 09
timjim, feeding the ducks at riverside park says...
9:56am Wed 23 Dec 09
newman76 wrote:and you haven't read the article - the roads were gritted, the rain washes the grit away, it rain freezes and the gritters have to then go out on icy roads to re-grit which has little effect on the ice due to no traffic passing on it.
The council have not done the job WE pay the council tax to do! They have not bothered to grit our roads BUT they have built a 40m new office! Who's running the show?? DISGUSTING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XRT, Southampton says...
10:01am Wed 23 Dec 09
SFC4EVA, Southampton says...
10:14am Wed 23 Dec 09
Southampton boy, Southampton says...
10:20am Wed 23 Dec 09
newman76, southampton says...
10:26am Wed 23 Dec 09
MaxxieO, Shirley says...
10:29am Wed 23 Dec 09
SRH74, Southampton says...
10:33am Wed 23 Dec 09
allways the optimist, says...
10:47am Wed 23 Dec 09
SRH74 wrote:I couldnt get to the end of the path outside my house! i think its safe to say that going outside is not the best option. Im sure the Canadians and Russians are laughing at us, a bit of snow and ice, and its emergency galore, were treating it like world war 3. Though if you think its bad here, try Basingstoke.
I've seen many car accidents this morning and about 50 people go a*se over t*t on the pavements which i would argue are worse than the roads themselves. As earlier comment - roads were gritted but the 10 min shower at 6.45am this morning turned everything to ice. However people still drive like idiots regardless of the weather. Will invent mini crampons for next year....dragon's den here i come!
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
10:47am Wed 23 Dec 09
MaxxieO wrote:I agree with Nothing to say, it was fine clear and v. frosty at 5.30, when I went out to Tesco's but the frozen rain meant that when I came back out the whole car park was an ice rink. I did about 10mph all the way home and stuck to main'ish roads and avoided hills just managed to drop off shopping and get into town again with emergency lights on 15mph, we got into town at 7am.
No sign of any grit all the way down Shirley High Street this morning. Pavements like an ice rink. People walking in the middle of the road because its safer.
Then when I got to the traffic lights by the Manor pub (this was around 10am), there was a massive 'beach' of grit on the pavement. It's a bit pathetic, surely they could have done the pavements in Shirley High Street.
G0Rf, SaaaafHampton says...
10:48am Wed 23 Dec 09
Southampton boy wrote:you expect a delivery within 3 days?
we used our grit here in springford crescent and we asked for a resupply about 3 days ago none come so now we are unable to get out of our road???? WHY COULD THEY NOT GIVE US A DELIEVERY??????
dyjps, Southampton says...
10:52am Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09, Winchester/Eastleigh says...
11:09am Wed 23 Dec 09
DWK, says...
11:11am Wed 23 Dec 09
englishcabby, Southampton says...
11:12am Wed 23 Dec 09
hmb, warsash says...
11:14am Wed 23 Dec 09
timjim wrote:In reply to 'timjim' basic science has nothing to do with it, it's basic common sense that the councils evidently lack. Living in the Fareham borough council area NONE of the roads in Warsash village and surrounding areas seemed to have been gritted, all down to the council being 'short staffed'. This ended up with 2 prangs before half 6 this morning and road closure until about 10 minutes ago. Still council were meant to come and grit the road and all we have is a sprinkling in the middle, nothing of any use. Newman76, your entirely right obvioulsy a head office is more important!!!!
newman76 wrote:and you haven't read the article - the roads were gritted, the rain washes the grit away, it rain freezes and the gritters have to then go out on icy roads to re-grit which has little effect on the ice due to no traffic passing on it.
The council have not done the job WE pay the council tax to do! They have not bothered to grit our roads BUT they have built a 40m new office! Who's running the show?? DISGUSTING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You need to get a grip of basic science, and stop complaining when you've got no idea. What precautions are you taking? Have you got studded tyres, snow chains? My guess is no.
bravebeth, Hove says...
11:19am Wed 23 Dec 09
G0Rf, SaaaafHampton says...
11:22am Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09, Winchester/Eastleigh says...
11:25am Wed 23 Dec 09
bravebeth wrote:Some people have no choice you know. Work commitments etc....
It's the parents of children who attend nurseries who are the nightmare - they speed up the minor roads and dump their babies in the nurseries. It is amazung how everything else shuts yet young parents risk everything to dump their babies, poorly dressed and exposed to the chill, and then they drive madly away as fast as possible from the nurseries. I am sure if they were open Christmas Day, they would still dump their children at the nursery.
Planty, Redbridge says...
11:26am Wed 23 Dec 09
RJCogburn, Southampton says...
11:39am Wed 23 Dec 09
MaxxieO wrote:"People walking in the middle of the road because its safer" ??? Apart from that truck sliding towards you that is!
No sign of any grit all the way down Shirley High Street this morning. Pavements like an ice rink. People walking in the middle of the road because its safer. Then when I got to the traffic lights by the Manor pub (this was around 10am), there was a massive 'beach' of grit on the pavement. It's a bit pathetic, surely they could have done the pavements in Shirley High Street.
tizz le bizz, totton says...
11:43am Wed 23 Dec 09
tizz le bizz, totton says...
11:47am Wed 23 Dec 09
Planty wrote:Maybe the pens pushers have come up with a fantastic idea to recycle the grit to save money from their xmas bonus. ?????????????
I agree that once they've gritted there's not much we can moan about - what else can they do? But I am astounded that I have just looked out of my window at work to see a road sweeper van clearing all the grit of the roads that was previously put down. Yey! How sensible!!!
fin6y, Poole says...
11:49am Wed 23 Dec 09
OSPREYSAINT, Southampton says...
11:58am Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09, Winchester/Eastleigh says...
12:01pm Wed 23 Dec 09
fin6y wrote:And I bet you are once of a few that walk from your road. I don't see the point of gritting the pavement for one person do you??
They need to grit pavements!! I only have a 10 minute walk from my house to get to work and left this morning at about 8.30, took me 3 times as long because outside my house was like sheet ice! Luckily further down the street it was all just water, but I could not get a grip anywhere to start with! I had to pull myself along walls because it was so slippery... :(
Noone thinks about pedestrians!
I hate snow!!!
mberry77, southampton says...
12:01pm Wed 23 Dec 09
XRT, Southampton says...
12:10pm Wed 23 Dec 09
XRT, Southampton says...
12:12pm Wed 23 Dec 09
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
12:12pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Stupideditor, says...
12:14pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Sulaiman Al Fahim wrote:The two don't compare, how can you expect any emergency service to meet it's government based statistics on a day like today with roads as icy as they were this morning.
Stupideditor wrote: I hope the daily echo will think twice about reporting any delays from South Central Ambulance attending to OAP falls whilst other people are busy crashing their cars and blocking roads.If Hampshire ambulance didn't take 2 hours in good weather conditions, it would not be an issue, would it? My security word is "well-slow". How apt.
MaxxieO, Shirley says...
12:16pm Wed 23 Dec 09
XRT, Southampton says...
12:17pm Wed 23 Dec 09
lorra1, southampton says...
12:22pm Wed 23 Dec 09
goard, Southampton says...
12:22pm Wed 23 Dec 09
New forest sprite, Waterside says...
12:38pm Wed 23 Dec 09
StEmmosfire, Woolston says...
12:57pm Wed 23 Dec 09
New forest sprite wrote:they asked for comments not your life story!
i find it somehow backwards that im commenting at all, regardless of how annoying i find everyone who makes such annoying comments and feels compelled to whine like a child at every little thing in the world- i can only surmise that these people have nothing else to fill their menial existence with- so let me open by saying that myself, and the rest of the real world- dont care what you think. if its icy and you feel 20 -30 mph on a 60mph limit road is acceptable because its " dangerous" even though there is no sign of ice, slush, and you know that 30k people have driven down it before you- without a problem -gtfo. stay home. dont flash at me when i overtake you perfectly safely. i drove to work this morning from the new forest. i managed to get to work on time. life goes on. i was on ice out of my whole road, and at several key points in my journey. i followed the highway code- kept a safe distance, ( but didnt go rediculously slow) i stabbed my brakes. i didnt even come close to crashing. ive seen gritters out. they were out last night too- at 4am when i was driving and between 8-10am too. someone commented earlier someone in the council should " get fired for this outrage". im at work, and im trying not to erupt in laughter. thank god you arent in charge of anything important- the country, the council- because its nobodys fault that its icy. this kind of comment is what the hell is wrong with our country. so fire someone. who? whoever's decision it was "not to send out the gritters"? im sure they did their best. road gritters have only one job- if they dont do it when its icy, when the hell do they.. i pay my taxes- and if the roads are icy- i keep the finger of blame firmly in my glove. the guys who are up all hours gritting our roads are champions and i want to say thanks and merry xmas to those people who work to keep us all safe. the police, armed forces, ambulances- and fire- the gritters, anyone who gets out there and works in these conditions without crying about it. who pick up the pieces when the incompetent majority take to the roads and get it so wrong. the ones who pick up the pieces of everything that goes wrong and selflessly work to put it right. grit pavements- with a lorry.. or men with shovels..? say, 5000 men for southampton and how many hours.. it wont happen. and gritting around the people already on the paths.. and the logistical nightmare of gritting every pavement. it takes a tiny patch of ice to slip up and break a bone. i did it earlier this year. i drove myself to A+E and got it plastered. tough luck! its my own fault for being outside. i understand peoples plight with ice- it causes slips and falls. but we get one day and the country goes haywire. on a closing point- id hate to sound like i approve of the council and everything they do. rather than whine about ice- who the heck is complaining about THE MILLBROOK FLYOVER. why has it been 30mph limited and narrowed for a year? bridge work? safe for me to drive over..and i could do 50mph if i chose to- so it cant be a safety issue. they work under the bridge.. so why make it slow. why make the limit 30mph all the way past the causeway. we are surrounded by idiots. idiots, unfortunately- can excel in one narrow field- get a degree- and hold a high powered job. if only solent uni offered degrees in common sense and such. give us back a normal width road and a 50mph limit! its **** rediculous, even the police dont do the speed limit through there. get with the programme southampton! ****! Fin.
Mexeman, Newfoundland, Canada says...
12:59pm Wed 23 Dec 09
DWK, Southampton says...
1:11pm Wed 23 Dec 09
jenjen2010, southampton says...
1:18pm Wed 23 Dec 09
bravebeth wrote:I am a young parent of 2 (Im 22) and tried to go out to work this morning and take my children to their childminders.I didnt speed up and drive in a risky way it is far too hilly and ended up pulling over and leaving the car and walking home with them both.It really annoys me when people talk about "young parents" in this way as not all young parents are!!Dont stereotype.
It's the parents of children who attend nurseries who are the nightmare - they speed up the minor roads and dump their babies in the nurseries. It is amazung how everything else shuts yet young parents risk everything to dump their babies, poorly dressed and exposed to the chill, and then they drive madly away as fast as possible from the nurseries. I am sure if they were open Christmas Day, they would still dump their children at the nursery.
SomersetSaint, Yeovil says...
1:24pm Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09 wrote:It's not driving on ice that's the problem, it's stopping! Still, you're obviously a great driver and therefore well qualified to tell everyone else how it should be done?!!
My road also wasn't gritted. I live in Southampton and on a hill. I just go down the hill in 1st gear. It's really not that hard to drive on ice people!
Lovebird, Southampton says...
1:32pm Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09 wrote:Unless you drive a rear wheel drive car (is your car rear wheel drive?) no amount of slow acceleration / rocking the car on bite / salting by the tyres was getting my car moving, all that was doing was kicking the arse out. The only way that I could move was when my boyfriend sat in the boot to get some weight on the wheels, even then she wanted to go sideways.
My road also wasn't gritted. I live in Southampton and on a hill. I just go down the hill in 1st gear. It's really not that hard to drive on ice people!
thesotonsaint, Southampton says...
1:37pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Gadgetgeezer, Fareham says...
2:04pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Lovebird, Southampton says...
2:04pm Wed 23 Dec 09
thesotonsaint wrote:Definately, mine was well up for being sideways this morning, luckily this was about a metre of driving from my gate so didnt have to abandon her, got the boyfriend in the boot and parked her up out the back of my flat! And even if I could drive, like you I wouldnt have wanted to attempt a roundabout, theyre difficult in the dry conditions!
I think you'll find rear wheel drives are worse, I had to abandon mine this morning as it didn't want to go round a roundabout! I was facing sideways for 5 minutes trying to get off! Anyway lets spare a thought for the elderly, I've just sat on the cold floor with one man for nearly 4 hours who fell and broke his arm and hit his head. Hampshire ambulance had 1200 outstanding calls according to the police.
S!mon, Romsey says...
2:07pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Lovebird wrote:lol @ "And even if I could drive" and roundabouts difficult in dry conditions.
thesotonsaint wrote: I think you'll find rear wheel drives are worse, I had to abandon mine this morning as it didn't want to go round a roundabout! I was facing sideways for 5 minutes trying to get off! Anyway lets spare a thought for the elderly, I've just sat on the cold floor with one man for nearly 4 hours who fell and broke his arm and hit his head. Hampshire ambulance had 1200 outstanding calls according to the police.Definately, mine was well up for being sideways this morning, luckily this was about a metre of driving from my gate so didnt have to abandon her, got the boyfriend in the boot and parked her up out the back of my flat! And even if I could drive, like you I wouldnt have wanted to attempt a roundabout, theyre difficult in the dry conditions! Hope the man was ok, saw an elderly man almost go over earlier but he managed to save himself and carried on with a smile on his face!
anne stelling, southampton says...
2:21pm Wed 23 Dec 09
VIVERS, southampton says...
2:27pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Lovebird, Southampton says...
2:28pm Wed 23 Dec 09
S!mon wrote:Haha! bad choice of wording on my part, touche! I meant "even if I could drive in the ice this morning" and roundabouts are difficult because of the car I drive, she likes to go sideways even at 30mph! :P
Lovebird wrote:lol @ "And even if I could drive" and roundabouts difficult in dry conditions. Women drivers. Sheesh!thesotonsaint wrote: I think you'll find rear wheel drives are worse, I had to abandon mine this morning as it didn't want to go round a roundabout! I was facing sideways for 5 minutes trying to get off! Anyway lets spare a thought for the elderly, I've just sat on the cold floor with one man for nearly 4 hours who fell and broke his arm and hit his head. Hampshire ambulance had 1200 outstanding calls according to the police.Definately, mine was well up for being sideways this morning, luckily this was about a metre of driving from my gate so didnt have to abandon her, got the boyfriend in the boot and parked her up out the back of my flat! And even if I could drive, like you I wouldnt have wanted to attempt a roundabout, theyre difficult in the dry conditions! Hope the man was ok, saw an elderly man almost go over earlier but he managed to save himself and carried on with a smile on his face!
bemused26, southampton says...
2:30pm Wed 23 Dec 09
goard wrote:Does anyone else think this is odd?
I ask all bloggers to THINK - we want to get to work, we have a gridlock, work suffers - but I really want to say 'YOU TRIED to keep it going'. It is not lack of character, you are snow bound - business has to go into a state of abeyance. don't panic, your family, friends, parents, must surely take pride of place - or if you are really at rock bottom - go to the homeless, rootless, and sad people who would long to have some foothold in Society and the commercial world.
goard
Mexeman, Newfoundland, Canada says...
2:32pm Wed 23 Dec 09
sotonwinch09 wrote:I haven't seen any ice people to drive on, are they safer to drive over rather than the roads?
My road also wasn't gritted. I live in Southampton and on a hill. I just go down the hill in 1st gear. It's really not that hard to drive on ice people!
S!mon, Romsey says...
2:59pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Mexeman wrote:And do we get bonus points if we find ice people rather than normal people?
sotonwinch09 wrote: My road also wasn't gritted. I live in Southampton and on a hill. I just go down the hill in 1st gear. It's really not that hard to drive on ice people!I haven't seen any ice people to drive on, are they safer to drive over rather than the roads?
damehippy, calmore says...
3:25pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Southampton Cruiser, Southampton says...
3:37pm Wed 23 Dec 09
NPC, Sholing says...
3:43pm Wed 23 Dec 09
geezer28uk, Southampton says...
3:55pm Wed 23 Dec 09
New forest sprite, Waterside says...
3:57pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Snowman, prairies says...
4:01pm Wed 23 Dec 09
The Future, West End says...
4:03pm Wed 23 Dec 09
LymingtonLady, Lymington says...
5:01pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Lovebird, Southampton says...
5:16pm Wed 23 Dec 09
LymingtonLady wrote:I live just off Shirley High Street and have done all my life, I am a receptionist on more than £19k (may not be much to you but it is to me) a year and have paid tax since I first started working part time at the age of 16. My mother also runs a shop there too, her own business and has also paid tax all her life, it shouldnt be "refreshing" to hear that we may have been unsafe on the roads / pavements!
"No sign of any grit all the way down Shirley High Street this morning. Pavements like an ice rink. People walking in the middle of the road because its safer. Then when I got to the traffic lights by the Manor pub (this was around 10am), there was a massive 'beach' of grit on the pavement. It's a bit pathetic, surely they could have done the pavements in Shirley High Street." Not many people who live in Shirley High Street actually contribute to tax money as they don't actually work. Something I have noticed every single day when I drive past the morans crossing the road whilst i'm on my way to work. So it's refreshing to hear that Shirley High Street was NOT a priority...
Hythe, hythe says...
5:31pm Wed 23 Dec 09
DWK, Southampton says...
5:38pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Lovebird wrote:I'm glad I wasn't the only one who takes issue with this. I live just off Shirley High Street too and I pay my council and income tax like clockwork. A lot of the people I saw trying to walk down Shirley High Street today where elderly or people with young families, they certainly weren't "morans" or even morons for that matter. Just people going about their everyday lives and trying to stay upright. Why should they be less entitled to gritted paths and roads than anyone else?
LymingtonLady wrote:I live just off Shirley High Street and have done all my life, I am a receptionist on more than £19k (may not be much to you but it is to me) a year and have paid tax since I first started working part time at the age of 16. My mother also runs a shop there too, her own business and has also paid tax all her life, it shouldnt be "refreshing" to hear that we may have been unsafe on the roads / pavements!
"No sign of any grit all the way down Shirley High Street this morning. Pavements like an ice rink. People walking in the middle of the road because its safer. Then when I got to the traffic lights by the Manor pub (this was around 10am), there was a massive 'beach' of grit on the pavement. It's a bit pathetic, surely they could have done the pavements in Shirley High Street." Not many people who live in Shirley High Street actually contribute to tax money as they don't actually work. Something I have noticed every single day when I drive past the morans crossing the road whilst i'm on my way to work. So it's refreshing to hear that Shirley High Street was NOT a priority...
DftT, Townhill Park says...
5:47pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Mexeman, Newfoundland, Canada says...
5:49pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Snowman wrote:In Newfoundland, but from Southampton area! Thawing here, snow on the ski slopes disappearing by the hour, but as you say, will be on the ice and snow until end of March! I know the Prairies can be a bit chilly so take care out and about.
LMAO.. a typical Newfie , Mex,after all the rants on here .. O well its a ft. of snow here this morn gotta go shovel and get going .. . will be driving on ice for the next few months!!.. Have a safe one all fellow Cdns !!
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
6:22pm Wed 23 Dec 09
DftT wrote:Bear in mind that many 'customer service' people or whatever you want to call them may not have been able to get into work either, hence the delay. My friend who works in the Civic took two hours to walk to work and it's normally a 10 min bus ride!
i tried to call the council today to see what was being done about the icy conditions and was on hold to the HIghways department for sooo long i hung up. What annoyed me was that the 'Customer Advisors' were all busy. I AM NOT A CUSTOMER OF THE COUNCIL!! i am a taxpayer and they are public servants - i do not CHOOSE to spend my money with Southampton City Council i am obliged to do so! and in the end, the rain sorted out the problem so maybe i should pay my council tax to the Met Office instead!!
dott6, Southampton says...
7:07pm Wed 23 Dec 09
DftT, Townhill Park says...
7:09pm Wed 23 Dec 09
southy, redbridge says...
7:09pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Hythe wrote:more than likely rain, you can log on to a live weather site where they keep you up to date every 30 mins
Anyone know if its going to be the same tom? Have seen 3 contradicting weather forecasts!
freemantlegirl2, Southampton says...
7:26pm Wed 23 Dec 09
DftT wrote:She works in the Council Tax department lol. Personally I don't have a problem with being a 'customer' although I agree slightly maybe resident would be better?
freemantlegirl, i'm not knocking your mate and i agree that i was probably expecting too much of the HIghways Dept as they have no doubt a nightmare of a day - its more the fact that i dont like being seen as a CUSTOMER of the council. if i chose SCC because it offered the best value for money or i liked the brand then fair enough but its not like i have a choice as to which council gets my council tax now is it!
puffa, southampton says...
8:36pm Wed 23 Dec 09
Hythe, hythe says...
9:08pm Wed 23 Dec 09
southy wrote:Thanks!
Hythe wrote: Anyone know if its going to be the same tom? Have seen 3 contradicting weather forecasts!more than likely rain, you can log on to a live weather site where they keep you up to date every 30 mins
moomoomama, Holbury says...
10:22pm Wed 23 Dec 09
bravebeth wrote:why are people so quick to judge young parents that choose to work and provide for their children? would you rather us all be at home on benefits so u pay more tax?? i dont think so! I love my kids as much as any young or old parent and would never put them in danger by speeding around in these conditions and i only work twice a week to make ends meet. give young parents a break we get stick for everything!!
It's the parents of children who attend nurseries who are the nightmare - they speed up the minor roads and dump their babies in the nurseries. It is amazung how everything else shuts yet young parents risk everything to dump their babies, poorly dressed and exposed to the chill, and then they drive madly away as fast as possible from the nurseries. I am sure if they were open Christmas Day, they would still dump their children at the nursery.
kcx, southampton says...
10:48pm Wed 23 Dec 09
LymingtonLady wrote:I really do hate people the judge others, Because your so perfect ,yeah!!
"No sign of any grit all the way down Shirley High Street this morning. Pavements like an ice rink. People walking in the middle of the road because its safer. Then when I got to the traffic lights by the Manor pub (this was around 10am), there was a massive 'beach' of grit on the pavement. It's a bit pathetic, surely they could have done the pavements in Shirley High Street." Not many people who live in Shirley High Street actually contribute to tax money as they don't actually work. Something I have noticed every single day when I drive past the morans crossing the road whilst i'm on my way to work. So it's refreshing to hear that Shirley High Street was NOT a priority...
SamiandAdi, Southampton says...
12:30am Thu 24 Dec 09
mimblewimble, Southampton says...
8:58am Thu 24 Dec 09
freemantlegirl2 wrote:I think you should remember that the ‘customer service’ advisors are council tax payers too, who struggled to work to answer calls yesterday.
DftT wrote: i tried to call the council today to see what was being done about the icy conditions and was on hold to the HIghways department for sooo long i hung up. What annoyed me was that the 'Customer Advisors' were all busy. I AM NOT A CUSTOMER OF THE COUNCIL!! i am a taxpayer and they are public servants - i do not CHOOSE to spend my money with Southampton City Council i am obliged to do so! and in the end, the rain sorted out the problem so maybe i should pay my council tax to the Met Office instead!!Bear in mind that many 'customer service' people or whatever you want to call them may not have been able to get into work either, hence the delay. My friend who works in the Civic took two hours to walk to work and it's normally a 10 min bus ride!
Donald2000, Southampton says...
6:47pm Thu 24 Dec 09
sotonwinch09 wrote:I think there's some kind of misunderstanding there. People dont need to learn to drive in ice and snow; they need to learn to stay indoors until the bad weather conditions give over and stop trying to be effin Superman all the time.
I would like to thank the Media for scaring all the motorists into staying at home. My journey took 20 mins less than normal this morning because no-one was about. People just need to learn how to drive in Ice & Snow
Donald2000, Southampton says...
11:04pm Thu 24 Dec 09
freemantlegirl2 wrote:There's nothing wrong with people attenpting to grit their own streets, or put salt down on the pavements. The trouble is that we have all been nannied to death in this country, so we now expect a social worker and policeman around every corner.
DftT wrote: freemantlegirl, i'm not knocking your mate and i agree that i was probably expecting too much of the HIghways Dept as they have no doubt a nightmare of a day - its more the fact that i dont like being seen as a CUSTOMER of the council. if i chose SCC because it offered the best value for money or i liked the brand then fair enough but its not like i have a choice as to which council gets my council tax now is it!She works in the Council Tax department lol. Personally I don't have a problem with being a 'customer' although I agree slightly maybe resident would be better? I think the Council need to think strategically about these things more. Train up other staff and transfer them onto gritter lorries and things when the weather is bad and have all night teams. The guys this morning were doing a sterling job in the town centre and I appreciate they may not have been able to get into work as early as they wanted to either but it's not their fault. The council need to put in an action plan, restore grit bins and also get in 'volunteer forces' like farmers with tractors etc (probably more applicable to Hants areas), ask residents of cul de sacs etc to grit their own roads (if they're able to). I expect though some jobsworth would come up with some 'elf and safety' reason why this can't be done these days!
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Brite Spark, Stubbington says...
7:54am Wed 23 Dec 09