capGpriv t1_j9eao42 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 7:56 AM

Makes a £300k cut, Tries to hide it by giving a “reserve” (can’t keep equipment on a reserve), then distracts by claiming gritting is sexist

Statistically women are significantly worse effected by icy footpaths, but prioritising footpaths over major service roads is idiotic

Trap_Cubicle5000 t1_j9fioip wrote on February 21, 2023 at 3:37 PM

>but prioritising footpaths over major service roads is idiotic

Why does it have to be one or the other? He's not saying "stop salting major roads" that's a false dichotomy.

capGpriv t1_j9fok5k wrote on February 21, 2023 at 4:16 PM

There’s only so many gritters, and the budget is only so big

The priority is about the order that routes are gritted, under normal conditions we could expect footpaths to be gritted eventually

MetalBawx t1_j9g7llx wrote on February 21, 2023 at 6:18 PM

Limited resources.

You have X amount of grit to cover Y number of roads or Z number of pathways. Which has more traffic and which is more prone to fatal accidents without grit?

Obviously the roads are going to get priority and even then with footpaths which ones are priority to be gritted the one down empty street or the one outside a school?

It's not sexism it's prioritizing resourcres and managing risk.

To give an example here the first thing that get's grit is the biggest roads and paths to emergency services like hospitals or fire departments. Then smaller roads and things like common routes to schools and so on.

TroyF3 t1_j9hjyqb wrote on February 22, 2023 at 12:44 AM

Can I introduce you to the concept of economics (I.e. the study of scarcity and it’s implications)?

Trap_Cubicle5000 t1_j9hvvxp wrote on February 22, 2023 at 2:12 AM

Absolutely, just as soon as I can induce you to read the article.

There you might learn that the council of Cambridgeshire is going to spend money on a review of the current gritting network to ensure that it is up-to-date and cost effective, as slip-and-fall claims that occur on the roads and sidewalks that go unsalted in favor of more major thouroughfares against the city cost money that might otherwise be saved if these sidewalks and residential roads took more of a precedence and potentially save money in the long run by implementing a more equitable and efficient system.

No where does it state that the service to major roads will be cut. Intentional, scientifically executed oversight of government services are necessary and if it takes a bit of a kick in the ass to make it happen, so be it.