Re: Free grit for all!
 

Well, my mum ordered one in Church...nowt yet.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Try phoning tomorrow Kate, I heard they have extended the deadline until Monday.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Let's keep up to date on this one. I've got a funny feeling that Brit's Grit is only going to be delivered to certain areas.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I think you're mistaken, you're dealing with an excellent council. You must have lost the bag ;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Church is out then:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Aye...or stolen by the neighbour who takes a shine to my Black Bin!!:D

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Did Pete tell you that?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

My bags were delivered last week :rolleyes::D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

As suspected, Ossy gets priority.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Baxenden will be next ;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Aye, then Harwood, Altham West....

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Cheers ... will do.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I wasn't aware that they'd delivered any bags yet. The original contract and funding was for 5000 bags. So if its now 7500 bags and climbing, it will be interesting to see where the extra funding is coming from.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Well, they've delivered in Ossy. But maybe the 5000 bag allocation has not yet been fully subscribed?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

An urgent council meeting was called to gain extra funding. Only one councillor turned up so it was a unanimous vote :D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

aint seen our bag yet, mind ya i'm a peasant.:rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

You could well be right. To deliver 7500 bags across Hyndburn is going take some time, especially if we get some more snow.To delivery 5000 bags and keep within the funding allocated was going to be tight. And what I understand about the funding, a touch on the optimistic side. I hope everything turns out alright, and everyone who wants a bag of grit gets one.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

This is the old Leftie in me now.

Surely the distribution of this grit should have been on the basis of need, and not want? Based upon the electoral register I would have assumed that HBC is fully aware of senior citizens within the borough and also those who are disabled. These are the people who would have most difficulty in clearing their footpaths, steps and backyards and these are the people who should have had priority.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Oops sorry, I thought you meant my sand and cement from greengates

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I would agree with that. And I would hope that those groups you mention wont be left out. I also know quite a few people who have been ringing up for their elderly neighbours.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Got to agree with you Tealeaf, Whilst I would love to receive our bag of grit to clear our pathways I think all the senior citizens and those who are disabled should be given priority.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I phoned to order mine last week and asked how many had been already ordered, I was told that it was well over 5000 but not to worry I would still get one, (to add to the one I bought last year and is still half full). I am not greedy, just a poll tax payer who want a bit back.

grem

Re: Free grit for all!
 

That all begs a number of questions, Bernard. Given that it is my understanding that the news of the Brit Grit was sprung on a council meeting only a few weeks ago, these are:

1) When and where was the funding approved for this? Presumably advance orders have had to be made for what is (I guess) already bagged stock, given the depletion of general stocks after last winter.

2) When was the formal purchase made?

3) When and who made the decision to allocate on the basis of first come, first served?

4) What is the current distribution policy regarding deliveries?

5) More specifically, I now understand that deliveries will occur any time after 7am, which means that some people who have ordered have to be up and about at that time and opening their back yard doors in order to allow access. There is no fixed delivery time, so some pensioners have been doing this for the last week, to no avail. I also note the temperature in Accy is currently -7C has I write.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

after phone conversation wi em, there leaving ours in front garden, sod getting up every day n putting the heating on waiting fer ever. if someone nicks it, tough luck,:eek:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

As you can probably appreciate I'm not a member of the controlling group. And I'm not really able to answer any the questions you ask.Although I suspect that quite a few of the controlling group would not be able to answer the questions either. I've just been able to find bits of information out, such as how many bags of grit the contract was far.And also the original budget allocation.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

You should be in politics, you answered the question without giving any answers :rolleyes::D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Last year we were all moaning about the lack of grit. Now your moaning about its distribution.
What next, "Its too smelly" oops we have had that one.
Errrmm what about "They cant give me an exact delivery time", nope we have had that one
What about "Too many people want it", nope thats been said
Errr this is getting hard, what about "Its not salty enough", yes thats a new one :rolleyes::D

I think this picture says it all.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1291021067

Re: Free grit for all!
 

It would appear that it can't be delivered because of he snowy conditions.:hehetable

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Na Taleaf the Ossy Boarder patrol:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Your tea money's been stopped:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Things will change when Ken Moss is in charge Neil:rolleyes::rolleyes: there'll only be one door:D with the two notices on it, got save money you know:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Their having trouble gritting the roads:rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Not so much that,I don't drink the stuff.But stopping some of the more lavish buffets some members of the Conservative group have been enjoying at the ratepayers expense, would be a step in the right direction

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Like this?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a...1&d=1291026204

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Got it in one mate:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I like it .

It sums up our party politics .

I ordered my grit this morning . Delivery within fortnight and left next to front door .

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Would appear some of us have very short memories, mine goes back beyond 2000;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

If the council were to deliver bags of grit to the elderly, how would they do it? Not every elderly person would want some - perhaps they don't go out when it snows, perhaps they don't have anywhere to keep it, perhaps they would prefer to buy a different type. I'm not being awkward but you can't just dump a bag of grit on every old persons door and expect them to be grateful. Plus, at what age would you have your cut off point, and shouldn't the disabled be considered?

So, the most straight forward way is to get people to ring into the council and request a bag - then everyone who wants one can get one. Oh, but hang on a minute, that's what's happening and some people are still moaning. A 'no win' situation.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Was expecting mine last week but it didn't arrive, so i emailed them & got the following reply, which indicates it might take another 2 weeks.

Dear Paul

Thank you for your email. Due to the high demand for grit your grit bag will now be delivered from Tuesday 30th November. We expect our deliveries to take approximately two weeks, please leave access to your property from 07:30 - 17:00 Monday to Friday until we have delivered your grit. Please leave any access gates open during delivery times in order to ensure delivery.

Deliveries are being made in areas but due to the very high demand for this extra service, we can not be more specific about the delivery date.

We apologise for inconvenience this may have caused.

I hope this information is of use to you.

Hyndburn Borough Council
Customer Contact Centre
[email protected]
01254 388 111

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Free grit for all!
 

One thought just occured to me, and I can't be bothered to go back and check if anybody else has asked but how is it free ?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Its a gift from Santa!!:D

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Ah right, apart from not ringing up that explains why I won't be getting any :D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

You can take the rest of the hardcore while you're at it, who would have thought that knocking out a chimney could have provided enough bricks for a complete new house....

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Sent an e-mail request for a bag at 15.39, reply came back at 15.51 saying will be delivered within 2 weeks from 30th November. Fair enough, they have a large demand.

Also, asked for a new blue box which was whipped away in the gales the other week, she has ordered a new one for me and will be delivered within 5-10days.

Can't get any quicker response than that. :D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

There was none but I managed to adapt the old window frames into a cold frame for next years lettuce and cucumbers.:)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Will they have made in Rishton on um Beni:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Don't think San Izal made window frames.:confused:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

No but they made the sand paper to smooth um:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Maybe they are too busy bagging up the free stuff to sort out the pavements this morning :mad:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

If anybody has had theirs delivered do you think you could spare some for all the pavements in the town centre :rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I believe Peter asa bit left over from doing New Lane:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

If John Wayne was still alive he wouldn't need any! ;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

He was true grit:rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I think we are all going soft,When I was five in the mid fifties we used to put chains on granny's clog's and give her the privilege of skipping down Ormerod St.to town and back with the weekly gruel :hehetable

Not to far from the truth as It happens.:(

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Some one like him just walk down the street and the ice melts!

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Indians as well:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Politics is the gizzard of society , full of grit and gravel , and the two political parties are its opposite halves which grind on each other . Not only individuals but states have thus a confirmed dyspepsia . ( Henry David Thoreau , American philosopher , 1817-1862 ) .

Re: Free grit for all!
 

And there was me thinking you'd become a philanthropist JCB:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

A nice thought , but I keep getting belly-ache . The politicians are a bit off , or I'm off them .;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Could possibly be the latter, but I can't understand why:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:;)

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Just found out that the 'first come, first served' routine has been abandoned in favour of area.

Guess where is first on the delivery rota? Rishton residents won't get theirs until early February.

Vote Conservative!!!

Re: Free grit for all!
 

That Bloody Early:eek::eek::eek:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

When was it stated that deliveries would be first come first served?
Its obvious that they will deliver an area at a time, how else could you feasibly do it?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Must be Huncoat then.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

well just think ... you all need the grit now ... by the time its delivered you wont need it .. so you'll have it for next year .. that is if you got somewhere to keep it .. in a dry place ..

Re: Free grit for all!
 

If Labour gain control we won't need any, it'll be to scared to fall anywhere near the Moss Empire:D:D:p

Re: Free grit for all!
 

If we could conserve all the hot air this bag of grit has produced , release it over Hyndburn when it snows , the whole lot would melt in seconds .

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Maybe by just abandoning the vote-grabbing exercise and sending the gritters down the side streets once in a while would have been easier and cheaper.

Ossy and Bash are first on the list, Rishton is way down at the bottom in January-February. Just explain to me how this system in beneficial to the whole borough equally when our old dears are going arsey-versey on the pavements for another two months?

Cllr O'Kane has gone into this in depth and pointed out some pretty elemental flaws in the costing.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I thought it was down to LCC to decide the gritting routes

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Local councils are responsible for minor roads so technically there is no reason why they couldn't organise it. I suspect it would be a damn sight easier and cheaper than trying to deliver 36,000+ bags of grit so that people can do it themselves.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Do Hyndburn own any gritters?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

No, Ken, this is not correct. Lancashire County Council is the designated highway authority for Lancashire. This includes all the Local Authorities within Lancashire, including Hyndburn but excluding those authorities that are Unitary Authorities (such as Blackburn with Darwen).

Lancashire is responsible for developing and maintaining the adopted highway network which includes all major and minor roads excluding those that are the responsibility of the Highways Agency (principally the M65 in Lancashire).

LCC would be the agency that owns the salt spreaders and is responsible for stockpiling and distributing salt during adverse winter weather. LCC would also develop the winter network management plans that would identify which routes need to be kept clear of snow/ice during the winter period. This would be developed in conjunction with the Local Authorities. However, there is nothing to stop Local Authorities from stockpiling and organising salt distribution under the auspices of LCC.

Confusing I know but such is politics! Politically (especially after the chaos last year) this is something that Local Authorities might choose to do because it is an issue that would draw heavy public criticism if not administered effectively.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Seems to me "our Ken" is still on the lower slippery slopes of a steep learning curve ;) guess one day he will realize that just because you have/know all the answers to a pub quiz it isn't exactly the same in politics :D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Ken could be right in one way, but I don't know whether it applies, HBC may have a sub contract to do a certain amount of road works on licence but I don't know just what the situation is now. I do know that this was in place a few years ago, then county took full control again, now whether there is something in place now I don't know

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I posted some months ago that a council worker friend of mine informed me that Hyndburn were only storing the grit/salt for LCC and that they had sold their gritters.:confused:

Never got a response then but then again it wasn't a popular topic at the time.So I'll ask again,IS IT TRUE?? :jimbo:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

That's sort of what I was driving at but didn't put it quite as eloquently as you! The county councils are only really concerned with major routes, sorting out minor roads is (if they choose) within the purview of borough councils.

Benipete, I don't know. I'll ask on Monday because I'd quite like to know myself.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Still no response :confused:

Missed your post Ken - Sorry

Re: Free grit for all!
 

We got our grit yesterday afternoon.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Where abouts in Ossy do you live MITZY:rolleyes:;):D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I live in Great Harwood not Ossy

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I got mine a month ago because I was quite sure that I would need it.:rolleyes:

As sure as I am that Christmas Day (for the forgetful ones) will fall yet once again on the 25th of December.;):D:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Shusssssh MITZY thats too near Rishton it'll be bursting Kens bubble:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I'm a bit miffed at this, I only heard about this through my mum, who gets the Telegraph...I don't do newspapers or the news (far too depressing) and I rang HBC today to order my bag and they've stopped offering it?? How is this fair?? I didn't know there was a time limit?
Can someone shed any light as there are people who are only just getting to know about this. Not that it makes any difference but i've just had a baby and getting out is hard enough without having your own slippy path to contend with.
Grrr....

Re: Free grit for all!
 

The litter from your rabbit tray would work well, but take out the turds first.

(a solution to your other problem)
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...elp-55944.html

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Should the Council supply grit so that residents can use it on there own path or is that the responsibility of the resident?

I usually use ordinary white salt on the path into the house so the rock salt does not get walked inside making a mess. I use rock salt on the road so the cars dont get stuck.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Simple answer NO. Pathetic vote bribing and ego raising stunt ( yes I did mean to write stunt but was tempted to write something else ).

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Just moved into washington street, so haven't had a chance to get any free grit. This morning was the first time the gritters have been down here since the bad weather started, it's had no effect because the road is a solid sheet of ice. But the pavements are even worse. And for this my council tax is 20 quid a week?

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Like Jim Naughtie on this morning's Today programme ? :D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Just been talking to a worker at a Residential Home and he tells me that they are not allowed to grit in case there is an accident,So the old people have to stay in.:confused:

I bet prisons were cleared of ice.:mad:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

That sound about right, let the house holders take the rap instead of Hyndburn BC for accidents this year. Not a bad move on our leaders part after all.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I don't understand what will be HBC's fault. LCC are responsible for gritting except motorways and thats down to the Highways Agency.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Any Authority does not have the resources or manpower to attend to all the minor roads or streets in any borough. Imperitive the main routes are kept open.

Besides which, the spreaders would not get down these roads... too narrow and parked cars are a problem. Cul-de-sacs would be virtually impossible for them.

HBC would have to salt the pavements by hand.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

Don't let it get you down Neil if it rains on wash day Britcliffe to blame, or so Ken says:D

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I don't care who blames Peter for whatever, its when people come on blaming the wrong Council for things that is just pointless.

If your bins are not emptied or your park is a mess blame HBC.
If the road us icy or full of potholes blame LCC unless its one of the major roads that the Highways Agency is responsible for.

Re: Free grit for all!
 

The average joe public don't know where HBC starts and LCC finish Neil:rolleyes:

Re: Free grit for all!
 

I have noticed. I am not completely aware of who does what myself

Re: Free grit for all!
 

sorry to be cheeky, free means free ( well i've paid for at least a portion of it through my council tax) so a free item is mine to be used how I please is it not? If you were given a free toilet roll in the new tesco it might have an obvious purpose, but t would not be my business to tell you how to use it? Haha,
And MargaretR best off using your week old catsan, it would have far much more grip to it, than my day old saw dust. Touché.

Sorry Neil for busting your balls on this one

Re: Free grit for all!
 

You haven't but you did not answer my question

Re: Free grit for all!
 

ahh you got me there, generally I would do it myself, but if i'm given a free grit I would use it on my path, plain salt doesn't usually cut it to be honest,

Did you know that in germany (i've been told this from someone who lives there) that is it the responsibility of the resident to clear snow from their front door, the width of their house to the line on the middle of the road. I think its a good idea, but would people be too lazy to do it??, it would be hard work, but...would cause a lot less hassle in the long run, elderly people would have to be assisted of course but those who could do it would save a hell of a lot of grit!! There would only be a requirement for a light general sprinkling of grit on the roads too.. What do you think?