Snow Plough grant?

Saruman

In parts of the US, as far as I have heard (could be wrong), you can get a grant for a plough attachment for your pickup truck. The idea being that you are obliged to attach it in bad weather so when you drive, you clear the streets. Win win for driver and other road users.

If it looks like we are heading in to a few years of actual winters (sun is in a period of inactivity I think) then it may be a good idea especially for rural areas and housing estates and far cheaper than paying for extra staff and proper snow ploughs.

I know from my time in the US during winter that every few pickup trucks I see have ploughs attached.

amacachi

We're well into a period of low activity of the sun I thought.

But anyway, I doubt the government are going to help anyone in any way, it doesn't seem to be the purpose of government in this country.

Run_to_da_hills

What ever spare cash (pension fund) the Government had for emergency grant provisions etc is now tied up as a deposit for the IMF / EU bailout. :mad:

Not a hope.

AlekSmart

It may well pan-out Saurman,that one of the results of this country`s collapse will be the return of our ability to do stuff for ourselves.

Our national brush with (imagined) wealth left us all individually and collectively incapable of wiping our arses.

One thing which large chunks of rural America still has is a strong sense of community and a very real sense of doing stuff for the communitys benefit.

Right now Ireland lives in a weird place which sees its people afraid to do even the simplest of tasks lest they be held liable,something which has,as yet to be proven.

As the money to fund local and national services is now required to shore-up a succession of professional financial gamblers,it follows that we ourselves will need to get familiar with basic housekeeping chores again ?

Wishbone Ash

Saruman wrote: »

I know from my time in the US during winter that every few pickup trucks I see have ploughs attached.

A significant factor though is that US pick-ups tend to be much larger that normal Irish models and are more able to take the heavy weight of a snow plough. Even the large 5/6/7 litre vehicles in the US appear to strain a little when the plough is raised. I don't think any of the one's I've seen there could be easily attached to the front of, for example, a Toyota Hilux.

And there would also be the inbred Irish psyche of taking the grant but giving nothing back in return. How would/could it be policed?

Saruman

That's true about the pickups, there are not a whole lot of American sized vehicles over here, though they do exist.

Davy

What about giving tax relief to companies (or something similar) that always have trucks on the road that would be able handle the weight. Eircom, esb, sierra are just a few that always have trucks on the road??

Tickityboo

Davy wrote: »

What about giving tax relief to companies (or something similar) that always have trucks on the road that would be able handle the weight. Eircom, esb, sierra are just a few that always have trucks on the road??

How about Dublin Bus!! At least we would keep the bus lanes clear so we could operate!!! And if you stuck a salt spreader on the arse of the bus the job is oxo for everybody.

Tickityboo

Tickityboo wrote: »

How about Dublin Bus!! At least we would keep the bus lanes clear so we could operate!!! And if you stuck a salt spreader on the arse of the bus the job is oxo for everybody.

Actually come to think of it.
That could be a Dragons Deen moment.
What better way to keep a route clear through housing estates and the like.

Run_to_da_hills

Tickityboo wrote: »

How about Dublin Bus!! At least we would keep the bus lanes clear so we could operate!!! And if you stuck a salt spreader on the arse of the bus the job is oxo for everybody.

Just pay kids to throw salt out the top back window.

Tabnabs

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

A significant factor though is that US pick-ups tend to be much larger that normal Irish models and are more able to take the heavy weight of a snow plough. Even the large 5/6/7 litre vehicles in the US appear to strain a little when the plough is raised. I don't think any of the one's I've seen there could be easily attached to the front of, for example, a Toyota Hilux.

Very easily and commonly done in Scandinavia.





The L200, Ford Pickup, Hilux and Mercedes G-Class are most common. In Norway for example private businesses like garden centres etc. who have these pickups are contracted by the local Co.Co. to drive round the back roads and residential areas to get the job done. No ploughing, no payment, and the residents aren't shy of complaining if it's not done daily.

O/T, shock horror, look at the footpaths in the second photo!

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.sbpost.ie/news/only-one-snow-plough-in-use-for-dublins-roads-53299.html

05 December 2010 By Nicola Cooke

Only one snow plough is in use by Dublin City Council to clear the capital’s snow-covered roads - and this is being used only on a limited basis.

While snow ploughs were dispatched by other local authorities to clear primary routes last week, these were not used to clear snow and ice-covered streets in the capital.

A Dublin City Council spokesman said that nine gritting trucks had been treating 300 kilometres of road network between 3.30am and 6am every day last week, and that 700 council workers were redeployed to treat roads and footpaths.

Only one snowplough , there isn't a huge market for more

Jawgap

Worked for a council in the UK and every bit of wheeled kit from dumpers to the ATVs used by the gardeners could either take a plough attachment or varying sizes of salt hoppers.

In poor weather, the ploughs and hoppers were attached and the staff were diverted to snow clearing - no nonsense about job descriptions or demarcation.

Any of the other council staff who got involved in clearing snow and ice got the same over-time (where applicable), but the best bit was the after-snow parties!!! If the snow lasted more than a week then the council laid on a lunch for everyone involved after it was over and coupled it with a half day - hard work, but good fun.

We don't need to follow the Nordic or the US example. We could just follow the Scottish councils.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8418457.stm

murphaph

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I don't think any of the one's I've seen there could be easily attached to the front of, for example, a Toyota Hilux.

Snow plough for Hilux

They attach snowploughs to just about any sort of vehicle in Germany. Clearing ice and snow is generally done ny private firms who contract for local authorities. These private firms are often landscape gardeners etc. for the rest of the year and just lash the snow plough on for the winter. Seems to work well enough.

Atlantic Dawn

Theres no company in Ireland manufacturing them so no room for corrupt payments.

Victor

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Theres no company in Ireland manufacturing them so no room for corrupt payments.

Can we keep it relevant and constructive?

Jomcc

This is one solution:

PM me for info.