Something very odd there - if the motor had been abandoned on account of the snow, were the road markings still
visible? What a hoot, anyway no doubt all will be revealed tomorrow..

Strafin, are you seriously saying that you would not employ any individual simply because they have worked for WBC at some time past or present?

There are other parts of the above comments I'd also like to question you about, but I'll leave it there for now.

Oh dear, stop trying to dig yourself out of this one. I can't remember the sex of everyone on here and being referred to as female is certainly not as offensive as your rant about hoping people lose their jobs. You've not come out of this one well (again) and my advice would be to cut your losses leave this thread here before you make it worse for yourself.

user23, using this goading technique makes it harder for neutrals to empathise with you. Strafin has a major on about WBC which is clear to see and often lacks veracity, but your sniping is not cleaver and doesn't show you in good light either.

This thread has turned from me trying to inform people where is gritted, to threats towards my livelihood.

I've just been told I work for the council and also that I should loose my job thus threatening the stability and financial security of my family by probably the most ignorant person who posts here, how do you expect me to react?

Like ossy, I'm tempted for this to be the last time I try and help anyone here out.

Presumably you work for the council then? I can understand you getting uppity, but all we end up with is a slanging match where no-one covers them self in glory.


*Strolls away gracefully on a a cloud of piety*


PS - Thanks for the link, it does lead to useful information.

Despite all this going on between you and others Strafin, I would appreciate an answer to my question please.

You're right of course, it's just sad when someone who is so ignorant they can't even see a drain or a streetlight outside their house wants you to loose your job in a thread you started in order to try to help everyone out. Not a nice person.

Sorry Bill, last post on this subject.

No need to apologise User23 I would just appreciate the courtesy of an answer to my perfectly civil question, from someone who I know has been logged on here since i first asked it.

Just in case you missed it, thanks for the link, it has useful information. And yes Bill1, it does seem a rather 'irrational' discrimination policy to me as well!

Ah, he's logged off whilst I was typing my last post.

Perhaps I'll be given an answer next time he's on here.

Sorry for the delay I had to go and have dinner....

In short probably not, if they worked for the administrative side of the council I would have reservations, especially if they were from the customer service department. It stems from living in Thatcham/Newbury for just about 30 years and dealing with WBC staff for all sorts of things which I have found to be an absolute chore at the best of times. That said if someone was leaving because they hated it, had been there a short time and felt it wasn't for them then maybe. I spent 18 months contesting a council tax bill which was wrong by over £1000, I was right but after all that fighting and down right rudeness from EVERY member of staff I spoke to I was still was not given a proper bill, an apology or any re assurance that it would not happen again. Contrary to what I post on here I am usually very diplomatic and polite and empathise with people in the firing line.

There's only one constant in the dialogue with the hundreds of people you must have spoken to at Newbury District Council, West Berkshire Council and Amey West Berkshire over the past 30 years. You.

If I was the only one to think it User you would have a point but if you look at all the people who post on here there is a large percentage who are not happy with the council. On the other forums too. Also in the letters page of the NWN. I deal with a lot of people in my current and previous roles in all sorts of different organisations. I hold a personal license for the sale of alcohol, have been a local councillor, and today have been putting in place the infrastructure to deal with any emergency situations arising from the current weather extremities. The only time I seem to get involved in these little tit for tat arguments on these boards are when I factor in a common denominator - you.

A supposed large percentage on this boards is an insignificant percentage of WBC's residents. The majority of people are satisified with the overall service of the council.

Having seen most of the traffic wardens helping traffic today in and around newbury. I think it is highly unlikly that they did put a parking ticket on a car! Also i think it was a great idea of the council to close going up strawberry hill amd to use west street instead! Although having said that a gritter has only just gone past our house and should not of bothered really! why are we not prepared for things like this its a nightmare!!!

Sorry, that's what GMR used to do when he made a fool of himself, "no, it's not me, it's you", or "no, you are".

Like him you're going on Ignore as you're incapable of a serious debate and as such you're just wasting everyone's time at best and are just plain evil at worst suggesting people lose their jobs because you've been rude to them or you can't see a streetlight or a drain.

Sadly for you, you'll not be wasting my time any more and after this sorry episode perhaps others too.

Yes, and it seems all sorts want to have a go at WBC - there's one plonker on here, for instance, having a go at parking wardens when he can't even drive a car. Dear oh, dear..

Without going back to page 1, we are prepared for snow, based on what we would normally get in a Oceanic Climate (warm summers, cool winters and plentiful precipitation throughout the year).

What we are not prepared for is a Continental Climate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_climate) and the levels of snow it generates. At least not with out spending huge amounts of equipment that will sit idle. A quick search shows a simple towed grit spreader costs £5000 + VAT. I haven't found the cost of a all-singing/dancing gritter/plough

Two winters isn't much to go on I'd admit, but it looks like we could be heading towards a continental climate.

If so in my view it's time for no gritting and mandatory snow tyres during the winter.