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January News 2010
11 January 2010
Gritting chaos linked to 2000 House of Lords decision?
The current spell of wintry weather has led to an understandable public outcry about inadequate gritting on our roads.
Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on local authorities to maintain the highways (including pavements) in their area, but some lawyers have been predicting this kind of winter wipe-out ever since a decision of the House of Lords way back in June 2000.
In the case of Goodes -v- East Sussex the Lords dismissed a claim for compensation by a motorist who was very badly injured when his car went out of control on an ungritted road. They decided that the duty imposed on councils does not include an obligation to take action in relation to "transient" temporary hazards such as snow and ice.
Ever since that case was decided it seems that gritting the roads has become less and less important for local authorities. And, in some ways who could blame a cash-strapped council from deciding "If we can't get sued over these accidents, why should we bother?"
Maybe it's time for the Goodes decision to be revisited...... but in the meantime, it looks as though we may all have to get used to struggling through the snow on untreated roads.
Thou shalt not worship false gods!
Regular readers of the Mulderrigs newsletter will know that our MD Paul Mulderrig is an avid Burnley supporter.
Commenting on the recent upheaval at Turf Moor, Paul says:
"I always wondered what that commandment about false Gods was all about when I was at school, but now I think I get it. Apparently Owen Coyle's not God after all, he's just the manager of Premiership strugglers Bolton.
"In all seriousness, Owen Coyle gave Clarets fans the best two seasons for many a long year and I wish him all the best.....And the Clarets can now concentrate on the fight for Premiership survival. There's just the small matter of a trip to the Reebok in just a few days!"
Judging by our pic, Paul and son Caspar remain confident about the Clarets' prospects.
