- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
-
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
@brightonargus
All the latest news and view from the Argus
@theargusoffers
The latest offers and competitions from the Argus
@theargusguide
The best events in Brighton, Hove and Sussex
@ArgusMagazine
Features, interviews, TV, travel and lifestyle from the Argus
- Find us on Facebook
The Argus
The Argus - news, sport and leisure for Brighton, Hove and Sussex
The Argus Offers and Competitions
Keep up to date with all the offers, events and competitions from the Argus
Anger at pride of Sussex highway supremos (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Anger at pride of Sussex highway supremos
12:40pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Ben James
The Argus front page story on Wednesday, March 13
Argus readers have reacted angrily to claims that councils “did everything they could” and “were proud” of their response to this week’s snow.
Sussex ground to a halt on Monday night (March 11) and Tuesday morning (March 12) after 10cm of snow fell in the county.
Buses were abandoned by the side of the road, vehicles crashed into buildings and freezing motorists were forced to spend the night in their cars.
Blame was largely levelled at the Highways Agency and local councils for not having gritters out early enough.
But when quizzed by The Argus, they said they were “proud” of their response.
Christina Liassides, head of highways operations at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “We are a very small team but I am very proud of what they did, everybody worked extremely hard.”
Roger Williams, East Sussex County Council head of highways, added: “We did everything we possibly could do, there’s nothing we would do differently.”
West Sussex County Council claim to have spread 1,200 tonnes of salt in 24 hours and The Highways Agency, which came in for some of the strongest criticism, said that it did “everything possible.”
But this didn’t wash with Argus readers, venting their anger on our website.
Readers' anger
Fred Clause said: “I was out in it all day Monday around Brighton and Hove and didn’t see one gritter.”
Alan G Skinner, added: “All the council has done is once again demonstrate their stupendous incompetence, they are completely and utterly inept.”
Tooned_In said: “I got stuck on M23... no gritters had been out, it is no use sending them out when everyone is stuck.”
However Btnlan expressed sympathy with the authorities, adding: “I agree that we need to be more prepared but the responsibility is with everyone.”
See the latest news headlines from The Argus:
- Jeremy Forrest's 'caring nature' led to his troubles, his sister claims
- Homes powered by £500k solar farm
- Brightonand Hove rangers get to work
- Brighton and Hove braces itself for another week of bin strikes as rubbish piles up
- Number of A&E patients in Sussex is rising
Add us to your circles on Google+
Comments(6)
Cycling commuter
says...
1:41pm Thu 14 Mar 13
I wonder how many people who were stuck had to be out and who else took precautions like snow chains, winter tyres or even packed warm clothes and a shovel?
Andy R
says...
3:34pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Don't be shy Ben!
Are you accusing them just making that up or what?
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
8:52pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Laughable.
The blooming bus depot is on the Lewes Road, one of the city's flattest and busiest roads which if gritted always stays open to buses which at least offer a service along that corridor into the Steine, but this week, not a single bus moved out onto the route.
So much for the Greens making this city a sustanable transport city desired by commerce.
The city was left completely unprepared. Which big companies would come here?
Cup cake shops and pound stores and that's it.
qm
says...
10:36pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Oxymorons in headlines?
Just plain ones too (morons that is)!
Dave At Home
says...
11:27pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Tailgaters Anonymous says...
1:15pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Oh and by the way it was good to see a gritter stopped on the side of the A23 northbound at Pyecombe at 23.30.
Traversing Clayton Hill by Jack & Jill was fun but the B2112 towards Ditchling was a dream and Plumpton College looked a picture at midnight.
Arriving home at 1 a.m. on Tuesday thanks to the ineptitude of West & East Sussex County Councils and the Highways Agency really made an excellent start to my week!!