It’s a classic of the type of issue where some people think it’s a really big problem, but others don’t – and extrapolate from their own view to assuming that everyone else doesn’t (or is utterly stupid to disagree with them) – and therefore that anyone taking up the issue is also daft.

Seeing other people’s views expressed online can help build a little more respect for the idea that other, sane people do have different views from you.

That may be via email or social media, but if it means knocking on doors or delivering informative leaflets then so be it.

FWIW, there’s absolutely no way that many informative leaflets about the grit bins are going to be delivered in my neck of the borough at the moment. I can barely get out of the door myself.

But it’s definitely true that all of us involved in local govt in some way should be collecting email addresses and other ways of contacting people in order to get news out quickly–I know where to look on my local schools website to find out if the school’s open, but it took a bit of searching, and if I found it hard work, what’s the average parent going to manage?

(I wasn’t sure this mornign if they’d manage to open–slightly annoying, as I’m due to start work there this week, but can’t if they’re not open…)

Definitely liking what Lynne’s doing, even if, on a purely personal note, it is a bit dull–has a road been gritted in Haringey? I care not. But it’s a good example of what a politician can do online.

–
Snow could fall in the city from this evening, with further showers until Friday and consequently the council gritters will be out treating all the main highways today and this evening.

Street cleaners are being diverted today to pre-grit pavements and gritting bins are being refilled for residents to use.

Council staff are paying particular attention to gritting pavements on hilltops, outside hospitals and shop fronts.

Four wheel drive vehicles will also be made available to ensure home care teams and Meals on Wheels are able to visit vulnerable people.

Full gritting routes across the city cover 156 miles, taking in every bus route in Brighton & Hove and there are 350 salt bins on pavements. In preparation, the council has around 400 tonnes of salt stored at Hollingdean depot. This would cope with almost three weeks of continuous heavy frosts. There is another 500 tonnes of salt on order.

In the event of snow and ice tomorrow the council is prepared to place piles of grit at strategic locations using street cleaning and gardening staff.

However, drivers and pedestrians should remain vigilant and take care during the cold snap as it is not possible to grit all 3,000 of the city’s roads. Even a high level of gritting service on roads and pavements that can be treated cannot guarantee they will always be completely clear of ice or snow.
This can be for various reasons, including the time it takes for salt to become effective; salt being washed away if rain turns to snow and water leaks on roads that turn to ice in below zero temperatures.
Drivers and pedestrians should be especially cautious when road frosts or freezing temperatures follow rain or snow.

*That’s* what the web can do well in politics – tell MPs things that they don’t know – especially the things that those who monopolise the info (civil servants, think tanks, pressure groups etc) don’t want them to know….