Nobody panics like the British. And there's nothing that can panic us more than "extreme" weather - that is, any weather that isn't just "cloudy with a chance of showers". This week the great British public have been stocking up on salt. They started with the winter grit - B&Q ran out (with a 900% sales increase). Then they tried table salt - Tesco ran out (with a 400% increase, one ASDA store reportedly selling a years supply in a few days). Now apparently it's dishwasher salt.
Seriously though, has anyone noticed how little councils grit roads? They grit the biggest ones and the rest are left. Worse still, pavements seem barely touched. It's like Dancing on Ice everytime I go to work, and I can't even skate!
The AA reported at the beginning of December that it reckoned most councils had less than half of what they needed, only having enough to cover them for 6 days. Some councils are already showing signs of this problem, including Falkirk Council which reportedly had to borrow from neighbouring Stirling Council within a week of the start of the snow. When the AA's initial claim was made, it was rubbished by councils who said they could get more supplies within "48 hours" but 2 whole days without grit is a long time to leave roads for.
It could be that their is a shortage because people are panic buying but it could be that councils still aren't prepared. Either way, I still end up waltzing on ice.
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