This Man is A Twat

Cllr David Sparks, Chairman of the Local Government Association Transport and Regeneration Board, an Old Labour dinosaur who's never had a proper job, but found a nice little number getting pissed ("He likes whiskey, port, and real ale") with the other jobsworths, whilst Rome freezes.

From the Beeb on14th December:

Half of the UK's local authorities only have enough road salt for six days of continuous freezing, the AA has said. The motoring organisation said it understood councils had 250,000 tonnes less road salt in stock than they would have had a decade ago.

It said last winter's heavy snow meant stocks had dwindled and some councils had to "borrow" from others. The organisation added local authorities' reliance on "just in time" deliveries left too many of them vulnerable to a lengthy big freeze or major snowfall.

AA president Edmund King said:
"We accept that not every road can be treated, but we must do a lot more to keep the wheels of the economy turning in winter emergencies and 'routine' winter weather. That means getting enough salt stocks in place now."

Reasonable, one would think, in the light of the debacles of 2003 and 2009. Not for our fat little pisshead, though, not a bit of it. In an LGA press release, Sparksie slurred back:

“It is ridiculous scaremongering for the AA to suggest that councils are not prepared for prolonged winter weather. As the AA is basing its concerns on little more than thin air, councils are more than prepared to provide the large dollop of salt with which their opinion should be taken. If the AA thinks the only way councils can ensure they have enough salt is by stockpiling it, it is showing startling ignorance. Councils realise how important it is to keep roads clear. It’s up to councils, not the AA, to decide whether it is a good use of their council taxpayers’ money to stockpile more salt or have other plans in place to make sure they can get enough grit to keep Britain moving.”

So, how's it going? Come Jan 9th, not so good:

The Highways Agency has already stopped treating motorway hard shoulders in England and the government has ordered salt from abroad but this is not due to arrive until 21 January. Local authorities have agreed to cut salt use by 25% in an attempt to preserve dwindling supplies.

The AA said it was surprised councils had agreed to cut the amount of salt they were using, as it was already being mixed with grit to try and extend its reach.

"The roads we come to expect to be safe may no longer be safe, and I think people need to know which roads are and which roads aren't going to be treated any more so that we can at least have an indication where our journey are going to be hazardous and maybe delayed."

Our fat twat had obviously been at the whisky/port/real ale when he jibbered this reply:

"The major roads will be gritted, the major communications between the country, and within local authorities and regions... at the moment we have done everything we can do, and we're in partnership with the government, and we are dealing with this problem," he said.

Unfortunately, wankers like Sparksie are unsackable.

Inhabiting a Masonic theme park of endless meetings, memos and mutual ego massage, they clog the creaking civic connivancies of this country until they finally shuffle off with an index linked pension in one hand and a V sign in the other, into a brave old world of chicken in a basket and high profile low effect 'charity' posing.
SHOOT THE FUCKERS, MAKE BRITAIN GREAT AGAIN.