The Scheme for Snow .Clearance
Page 21
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TH"year big efforts have been made to prevent any grave dislocation of road traffic by the advent of snow. At the M. of W.T. a central committee has been working under the chairmanship of the Chief Engineer, whilst Divisional Road Engineers are collaborating with the Regional Transport Commissioners, the former being in touch with the highway authorities.
The M. of W.T. is entirely responsible for the Clearing of trunk roads, the others are the responsibility of the highway authorities, and the D.R.E.s are urgifig the latter to obtain all the equipment necessary, also to obtain from the R.T.C,s, vehicles required for the ploughs when the authorities have not enough of their own. Arrangements have been made for fitting ploughs on the fronts of buses in the manner which has been followed by the Midland Red concern for some two years, . thus cutting down enormously the_ lost mileage. Goods vehicles will also be employed for the heavier types of plough required in Scotland and the Pennines. Roads in rural places where food traffic is important will also be cleared, farmers using ploughs in conjunction with agricultural tractors. Special facili
-ties will be afforded for licensing.
The Ministry is §upervising the production of snow ploughs to meet the requirements of local authorities, and the co-operation in connection with secondary roads is very good.
The arrangement will be continued whereby local Military Commanders will be asked to assist in clearing roads, whilst the R.A.F. are being requested to help with equipment.
Gritting is particularly important, as after ploughing, traffic quickly turns the packed snow to ice. The grant towards the provision of ploughs and gritting machines will be 50 per cent. Additional sums will be given to assist with the labour.