...the Path and Driveway Clearance Inspectors. Well, if the
health chiefs have their way, anyway:
Health chiefs are demanding councils and private citizens be legally compelled to clear snow and ice, after it was revealed accidents due to January's freezing weather may have cost the NHS more than £50million.
And just remind me, who pays that money into the NHS in the first place? Yes, that's right, us.
The Authority's researchers write in the Journal of Public Health: 'We could make it a legal requirement for councils to grit pavements, or follow other countries and make it a business or individual responsibility.'
They give examples of strict rules compelling citizens to clear pavements in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the US.
Either way, I know one thing. We're going to pay through the nose. And the state will grow ever larger.
"the state will grow ever larger"...which is, of course, their real aim. This is never about us. Admin folk, bureaucrats etc exist only to expand their empires.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't us who decided that we became liable for damages if someone sliped on a pavement after we had cleared it if snow and thus 'caused' the subsequent ice.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, just another excuse to hire an army of bullying goons which is what they wanted to do after the smoking ban but, sadly for them, we largely curled up on that one; my own Council has just one no smoking enforcement officer and he only acts upon complaint.
Watch the hordes of muppets claiming to have received injuries from badly cleared paths which, by coincidence only, will just happen to be outside the richest businesses and the most expensive houses in town.
ReplyDeleteAnd elderly or disabled people clear the snow how? And do we get a reduction on our council tax for doing the councils job which they already refuse to do in our street but we pay for anyhow.
ReplyDeleteAnd who pays for the councils to maintain footpaths? - We do.
ReplyDeleteAnd who took the road salt away from the councils who'd planned ahead?
Here's an idea.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we just say a collective "no".
It's really as simple as that.
'... make it a business or individual responsibility.'
ReplyDeleteYeah like smoking, drinking, lifestyle et al.
If this becomes law and I see some half-wit fall over outside my house, I'm out there with a shovel and batter them to death. May as well be hung for a sheep etc.
Apart from that I'm with Rab, just say no and mean it, for once.
wv = dibbil. As in the po-lice officer that's gonna enforce this.
Two words: BIG SOCIETY
ReplyDeleteThe cost may be 50 million eh?
ReplyDeleteI just love those back of an envelope stats, like the cost of drinking and smoking related diseases, dont you?
When I was a kid and we had snow most years, everyone cleared their paths and the pavement in front of their houses out of common courtesy, no coersion needed.
Now the idea has got around that you can be sued if you clear your path or the pavement and someone slips and injures themselves, but not if you leave it alone.
I'm not sure that is actually true, as I dont recall any cases thereof.
What I am sure of is that the Council is responsible for the pavements being safe, so if they leave it snow and ice covered they should be liable in the same way as if someone trips over a badly maintained flagstone.
This used to be a popular sport in Liverpool, especially round xmas when readies were short, known as the Toxteth trip. Folk would claim damages for injury and get compensation out of the Council almost automatically, because the council didn't want to waste time and money in Court.
Two solutions, get the Council to honour its obligations which we are already paying them for, and clear the pavements.
Remove no win no fee from ambulance chasing solicitors. That would concentrate the minds of those trying it on wonderfully, if they thought they would have to bear the costs if they lose.
"...sadly for them, we largely curled up on that one; my own Council has just one no smoking enforcement officer and he only acts upon complaint."
ReplyDeleteVain hope thhat the cuts will affect them, too...
"And elderly or disabled people clear the snow how? "
In the US, I believe there's an exemption clause. The various charities and lobby groups better get to work to ensure this isn't 'forgotten' in any UK plans...
"Here's an idea.
Why don't we just say a collective "no"."
If only we would... :(
"Two words: BIG SOCIETY"
*grinds teeth*
"When I was a kid and we had snow most years, everyone cleared their paths and the pavement in front of their houses out of common courtesy, no coersion needed."
ReplyDeleteSo many things that were once common courtesy are now byelaws, and so finable on a lapse of same. It's a money tree!
"That would concentrate the minds of those trying it on wonderfully, if they thought they would have to bear the costs if they lose."
ReplyDeleteSometimes, RAB, you bear the costs even when you WIN!
Fuck me julia, that's outrageous!
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell have they done to the Law since I graduated in the 70s?
That is against every principle of Justice I was ever taught. The loser to pay the winners costs and his own sure, but the winner to pay the losers??
Health chiefs are demanding councils and private citizens be legally compelled to clear snow and ice...
ReplyDeleteAnd the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority is asking how cool Hitler was in a survey of theirs. Some connection possibly?
Aren't we all so " FUNNY"!
ReplyDeleteWell, better hang up your spurs.
TEXAS is BURNING like no other.
And EARL and MOTHER JONES is the WORD!
So better call DON KIZ and CARTER!
You need to re- assess your ASS!
DR. DRAGON BALL to DR. DIBBEL...
Got a one way MOBANGO PASS.
( RAFFY was the EGG- WASHINGTON?)
Not anymore.