Office to rent in Lewes

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Suing Council For Neglicence? Where are Cllrs?

On 21 Dec 2009 at 4:36am SAR wrote:

Is the Council in breach of any health and safety/ legal obligations by not clearing/ gritting roads? If this was Germany they would be in deep legal sh1t by now. Does incompetent, retarded Highways actually realise what consequence a broken bone has in terms of sick pay, NHS costs, long term health if not death, espacially for the elderly? Our councillors are very resourceful when it comes to a big gob and fancy names but useless when they, for once, could get up their backside and use their connections to Highways to actually do something for the electorate. It's a disgrace.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 8:15am i dont live in lewes... wrote:

Well, the LibDem Clrs don't respond to emails and the Con Clr Mathew Locke(Member of the Cabinet, Lead Member for Transport and Environment)
who discounted the 11,000 souls who objected against the Newhaven Incinerator doesn't believe in democracy or your welfare.
Spoilt for choice Eh?
Your best bet is if one of the elete slip and fall heavily on their arse.
PhilX

On 21 Dec 2009 at 9:49am ere be monsters wrote:

I quite agree that the councils inability to clear pavements is not acceptable. Comparing our situation to Germany is like comparing our's to that of Barbados. If you want our councils to react with the same resources as other European countries that have heavy snow throughout the whole of the winter then you would have to be prepared to pay for it in our council taxes. You would also have to be prepared to buy your car a separate set of winter tyres which are compulsory in such countries. I don't think we do enough to help ourselves either, did you clear any of the pathways outside your house SAR?

On 21 Dec 2009 at 9:59am Merlin Milner wrote:

For those who are not aware, the highways are the responsibilty of highways department of ESCC. LDC has nothing to do with it.
I have tried ringing ESCC highways but cannot get through, obviously very busy fielding calls.
SAR, I assume that you have inside information as to what our Lewes County Councillors are trying to do with regard to pavement gritting.
When I manage to get through to them I shall try and find out about the service. I live in South street and yesterday was terrible.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 10:49am Anon wrote:

I never cleaned my pavement they said on the news that if you clean the pavementand somebody slips they can sue you ?
but leave as it and somebody slips it's an act of god!
can they still call him god or is that non pc like ba ba black sheep.
If they can sue a householder for cleaning pavement can we sue the kids up my road for sledging on it and turning it into sheet ice.
how dare they have fun must complain to the goverment.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 11:19am Ltr wrote:

I often wonder if the idea that if you clear snow outdie your house you would be sued in the circumstance of an accident, is an urban myth. Is there any actual legal advice, based on fact that ESCC could offer? Many of us have tried to spread grit on very dangerous patches because it is patently opbvious that the situation is unsafe left as it is. Un fortunately all the salt bins were long empty. When were they last filled?
I am not confident in ESCC because I am sure I am not the only one who has noticed that the new panels in the tunnel are still buckled!

On 21 Dec 2009 at 12:58pm Merlin Milner wrote:

Just come back from Brighton and the pavements away from the centre are terrible, so it not just Lewes. BTW Brighton and Hove's highways are not run by ESCC.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 1:51pm LTR wrote:

pressumably they are all using the same excuse! I would like to know why there was no salt in the salt bins in Lewes. Pressumably we pay for salt to be put in them on a regular basis because the bins are permenant, and have lids., and if not why are they there?

On 21 Dec 2009 at 2:32pm SAR wrote:

Thank you Merlin. I very appreciate your efforts and would be grateful if you may update us. I thought it was clear that I was referring to ESCC and Cllr 'Terse Rip'. Fair enough that unitary Brighton struggles too keep their roads deiced too but two incompetencies don't make a merit and won't help anyone. It may be a rare weather phenomena but fact is that ESCC knew it will happpen and is still ill equipped to prevent/rectify the situation. And likely nothing will be done about it in the future. Do we need to have fatalities before ESCC will spring into action? Someone please enlighten as of whether ESCC is breaking law as I'm very prepared to pursue this. Again, if this was Germany the Council would see itself bombarded with valid compensation claims. EBM, I like your Barbados analogy. It coudn't be more to the point. As for clearing pavements myself, I only have my bare hands and it's not really an option. As much as I would like. May I just add, the Council Tax argument is pretty lame. We already pay the highest Council Tax of non metropolitan councils in England so it hardly matters anymore. They may just take it all. There is no price tag on the health & safety of life and well being.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 5:38pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:

A colleague of mine lives in Eastbourne, on a hilly estate not unlike the Nevill. At each crossroads, there is a salt bin full of salt, he and his neighbours went out at the weekend and shovelled the snow from the road and pavements and sprinkled the slat from the bin. Job done.
I wouldn'rt mind mucking in and doing my bit if the council provided the necessary stuff, but even that's too much trouble.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 7:08pm Merlin Milner wrote:

facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=214154259388&ref=nf
How some B&H residents have reacted

On 21 Dec 2009 at 7:11pm Mystic Mog wrote:

Rather than have signs in Lewes stating where one cannot drink in public - who takes any notice of them. Have a little sign that says "Gritting bin / salt bin 200m and an arrow.

On 21 Dec 2009 at 7:17pm i dont live in lewes... wrote:

Sounds too logical Mystic Mog.
I live at the top of a hilly road in Seaford and there's buggerall grit.
What ever happened to the bins full of grit by the roadside? You don't seem to see many around.
ESCC cut back due to global warming maybe?
lol
PhilX