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Britain is blanketed in snow again, there's not enough grit, the trains grind to a halt ... and the Transport Secretary says: Don't whinge!
By IAN DRURY and SAM GREENHILL
Last updated at 11:23 PM on 06th February 2009
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Suffering motorists were told to ‘stop whingeing’ by the Transport Secretary yesterday as the country slithered through a fifth day of snow chaos.
In an astonishing outburst, Geoff Hoon said drivers had only themselves to blame for the struggle to get around.
Mr Hoon, who has come under fire himself for failing to ensure there was enough grit on the roads, insisted motorists were ill-prepared for the conditions and suggested they fork out £54 on snow chains to ensure their tyres could grip.
White-out: A lone pedestrian braves the snow in Totterdown, Bristol
He demanded: ‘Why has nobody got snow chains and why are you all whingeing about what the Government hasn’t done?
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‘If you live in the Alps you have snow chains in the back of your car. So why have none of you intelligent, capable people got chains?’
The lecture from Mr Hoon, whose previous gaffes have earned him the nickname ‘Buff’ Hoon, was ridiculed by opposition politicians and transport experts, who said chains were unsuitable for the UK because they cannot be used on cleared roads or at more than 20mph.
The Association of British Drivers branded him ‘a clown’.
His timing could hardly have been worse, with the transport network again struggling in blizzard conditions and warnings that an overnight freeze would turn roads into skating rinks this morning.
The West Country and South Wales were worst hit yesterday, with 22in (55cm) of snow in west Devon. Both Severn crossings were closed after blocks of ice began falling 50ft from overhead gantries. The windscreens of at least six cars were smashed.
In Devon, some 200 people spent a night in their cars and had to be rescued by the Army and police. A million schoolchildren had a day off as schools closed.
The worst snow for 18 years is estimated to have cost the economy £3billion, with employees unable to get to work and firms unable to make deliveries.
Mr Hoon, speaking at a Westminster lunch, dismissed criticism over local authorities running out of salt, even though the AA says this has resulted in untreated minor roads becoming ‘death traps’.
He insisted the Government could not justify buying more snow ploughs which cost £100,000 each and a further £10,000 a year to maintain, but lasted only ten years.
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He asked: ‘Has anybody got any snow chains? They are £54.50 at Halfords.’
But experts were quick to point out the impracticality of his solution and the tactlessness of his delivery.
AA president Edmund King said: ‘Mr Hoon says the Government can’t justify buying snow ploughs which will only be used once every 18 years. The same applies to motorists and snow chains.
‘Britain is not the Alps. We get a few days snowfall a year, they have it all winter long.
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‘When ministers take £50billion a year in taxes from motorists it is a bit rich for Mr Hoon to come out with this smug, self-satisfied comment instead of accepting the roads should have been gritted properly.’
Brian Gregory, chairman of the Association of British Drivers, branded Mr Hoon a ‘clown’, and added: ‘This is a particularly unhelpful comment.’
Tory transport spokesman Theresa Villiers said: ‘This was a typically tactless and insensitive comment from Geoff Hoon. Motorists stuck in freezing conditions and businesses losing money hand over fist will not take kindly to being lectured about snow chains.’
Lib Dem spokesman Norman Baker added: ‘It’s very convenient for Geoff Hoon to blame everyone else when the entire transport network has collapsed. He should accept responsibility.’
Accountant Michael Starkey, who was stuck in blizzards on the B3387 at Haytor in Devon for 14 hours, said: ‘I can’t believe this man wants us all to go out and buy snow chains – it’s ridiculous. It was a freak snow storm. His comments are an insult to those who spent half a day trapped in their cars with no warmth and nothing to eat.’
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With temperatures dropping as low as -8C, councils are perilously close to running out of salt and grit, with some forced to ration its use. The Local Government Association said some are down to their last day’s worth.
As a queue of 50 lorries caused severe delays outside a salt mine in Middlewich, Cheshire, grit suppliers called on ministers to ease limits on delivery drivers’ working hours. Michael Hansen, a manager at Icethaw, said: ‘In the 70s and 80s we had this crisis and ministers adjusted limits. Why the hold-up this time?’
The Local Government Association Environment Board said fresh stocks have been ordered abroad, with 40,000 tons each coming from Spain and from Germany.
Weathermen said more snow will hit the Midlands and North East tomorrow.