Slippery problem for postmen

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thestar.co.uk/letters/Slippe ... 5953808.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh how my heart bleeds for those poor people who did their Christmas shopping when Sheffield City Council hadn't gritted the pavements for them.

I expect they are the same ones who haven't bothered to de-ice their footpaths or steps leading to their letter boxes, making our life (i.e posties) even harder because Sheffield Council haven't gritted any pavements throughout Sheffield.

I deliver round Tinsley and only St Lawrence, Sheffield Road and Bawtry Road have been gritted so criss-crossing other streets is like walking on ice rinks which includes people's house pathways and steps!

When I was a young un, we were never told or asked to clear snow it was what was expected of us kids.

We even did people's driveways. Bottom of our street was a salt bin which our local council would fill when asked.

Mind you I did live in Derby so salt bins were the norm unlike Sheffield where instead of 'spot the ball' we could play 'spot the Sheffield Street Force' gritting pavements or side streets or even harder 'spot the salt bins' cos I've never seen one during my walk round Tinsley.

Name and address supplied

[not me]

i am the only one i can see in all the streets around who has cleared their path
i cleared the old dears next door as well ]#
nobody seems to bother now?? from a selfish point it saves trudging snow into the house

[Broxi51]

I used to clear the snow from my pavement until I heard that I could be liable if anyone slips and falls on the area I cleared. Apparently if the snow is left and anyone falls then it is an act of god whereas if you clear it then you could be liable.
Pretty crazy state of affairs

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I used to clear the snow from my pavement until I heard that I could be liable if anyone slips and falls on the area I cleared. Apparently if the snow is left and anyone falls then it is an act of god whereas if you clear it then you could be liable.
Pretty crazy state of affairs

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/l ... 205122.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Brief encounter: clearing the snow
Do I have to clear the ice from the pavement in front of my house?

Q: My garden path leads down to the pavement on the road outside my house. When it snows, the council takes ages to clear snow and ice from the road and the pavement. Some of my neighbours carefully sweep and grit their paths and the stretch of pavement outside their homes. I have never done this. What is the legal position with clearing snow and ice from the street and my path?

A: Your local authority is responsible for clearing snow and ice from the public highway and pavement. Under Section 41(1A) of the Highways Act 1980, the council must ensure that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice. If the local authority fails to act, you can apply to the magistrates' court under the same legislation for an order to unblock the highway within a reasonable period - although such orders are very rare indeed.

Private landowners are not obliged to clear snow or ice from the highway, even if the road or pavement passes over their land. Indeed, from a legal point of view it may be risky for private individuals to clear these areas. By sweeping snow from one part of the pavement you can create a danger in another area and if someone is injured, you will be liable for negligence or nuisance.

On your own land, it is a different matter. You owe visitors a duty under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 to take reasonable care to ensure that they are reasonably safe. This means that if you know someone (such as the postman) is likely to walk up your garden path, and you also know that the garden path is slippery, you must take reasonable steps to clear the path of snow and grit it if necessary.

However, you should not simply brush the snow from your path on to the public pavement. It is also a public nuisance to block the pavement of the road by sweeping snow from your property on to the highway.

Your neighbours are therefore quite right to clear their own paths, but are taking a legal risk in clearing the public pavement - no matter how public-spirited their actions may seem.

Mark Loveday is a barrister at Tanfield Chambers,

[jockstrapp]

Why don't Royal Fail Do a national advert telling house holders that if they don't clear their paths then they don't get no mail. All the LAZY bast@rds on my walk never attempt clearing snow/ice from their paths.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Why don't Royal Fail Do a national advert telling house holders that if they don't clear their paths then they don't get no mail. All the LAZY bast@rds on my walk never attempt clearing snow/ice from their paths.

Amen to that

600+ drop points including businesses and I estimate 20 - 25 had cleared a path.

[not me]

I used to clear the snow from my pavement until I heard that I could be liable if anyone slips and falls on the area I cleared. Apparently if the snow is left and anyone falls then it is an act of god whereas if you clear it then you could be liable.
Pretty crazy state of affairs

if you clear it right then its not a problem
my path is dry as a bone
shovel the snow off
scrape it down with the blade
scrub it with the yard brush
salt it
then go back over with the yard brush to clear the last bits
im proud of my little oasis in the snow

[Stormproof]

Watch out for the idiots who clear there windscreen or unfreeze the locks on cars with boiling water, that freezes over so you can't even see its there

[smokerjim]

Watch out for the idiots who clear there windscreen or unfreeze the locks on cars with boiling water, that freezes over so you can't even see its there

They deserve to get a huge crack in their windscreen for that alone!

[DGP1]

Watch out for the idiots who clear there windscreen or unfreeze the locks on cars with boiling water, that freezes over so you can't even see its there

They deserve to get a huge crack in their windscreen for that alone!

There's only so many cars I can visit in the winter and TBH it's a bit cold out........................not tho mention the details of my ASBO

[smokerjim]

Watch out for the idiots who clear there windscreen or unfreeze the locks on cars with boiling water, that freezes over so you can't even see its there

They deserve to get a huge crack in their windscreen for that alone!

There's only so many cars I can visit in the winter and TBH it's a bit cold out........................not tho mention the details of my ASBO

[norbert]

Watch out for the idiots who clear there windscreen or unfreeze the locks on cars with boiling water, that freezes over so you can't even see its there

They deserve to get a huge crack in their windscreen for that alone!

There's only so many cars I can visit in the winter and TBH it's a bit cold out........................not tho mention the details of my ASBO

no building naughty snowmen either DGP - remember what the Magistrate said last time

Mods Delete the pic if felt offensive - no offence intended

[smokerjim]

Norbert...it's not big & it's not clever ( but it is funny )

[norbert]

Norbert...it's not big & it's not clever ( but it is funny )

that picture has been doing the rounds and I dare say it'll be doing some more

http://www.flickr.com/photos/campdave/4205556989/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; someone has owned up to making it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/campdave/4 ... 592525115/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[smokerjim]

Norbert...it's not big & it's not clever ( but it is funny )

that picture has been doing the rounds and I dare say it'll be doing some more

He can do my round anytime ( as long as I can claim the pay )