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THE BIG FREEZE of 2010 caught the country by surprise. No one expected it would be so cold, or that so much snow would fall. And the country did not have the infrastructure to deal with it.
In particular, the roads were treacherous and local authorities struggled to make them passable again – the country even ran out of salt at one point.
Eight years later and a salt shortage is no longer a concern at any time of the year – nor is it likely to be in the future. Ahead of the storm this week, Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Seán O’Neill said we had “ample supplies” of sale – 120,000 tonnes to be exact.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie on Thursday, he said serious lessons were learned from the 2010 big freeze and the system was completely overhauled.
“Before, we had to get in a queue with France and Germany and everyone else who was looking for it at the time. We had to go knocking on everyone’s doors, hat in hand and chequebook blank and it made it very difficult. People can take advantage and charge a premium.
“This was one heck of a lesson, so we knew we needed to look at what we learned and then decide what to implement.”
He said now there is a framework contract with a private operator and now we buy the salt in bulk and at off-peak times, like during the summer.
This means the costs are kept down and access to the product is guaranteed. Proper storage facilities have also been installed across the country so that local authorities always have stocks of salt to grit the roads whenever there is a bit of frost overnight.
“It’s really made a big difference – that and the fact that we have about 330 pieces of equipment in the national network too, to clear the roads.”
O’Neill said the that in general, the level of preparedness for severe weather in Ireland has “definitely improved” in recent years.
“The government has put together all the central elements into one portal. They all know what’s going on – the Civil Defence, the HSE, the ESB – they are all sitting around the table, all communicating to one another in one location at one time so it really does show a coordinated effort.”
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Great work from all Involved.
Have to say credit where its due council did a great job certainly in my area
@Mark Dawson:
Mine too. Credit to Fingal CC
@Nick Allen: was very impressed with councils response and credit to the employees who made it into work to make it happen
Many people were (are) still trapped in housing estates and couldn’t access the main roads. After the winters of 2010/11, Belfast city council installed salt/grit containers in every housing estate in order to ensure that residents could get around even if the gritters didn’t get to their area. This is particularly useful for keeping footpaths clear
@Anne Marie Devlin: that’s my situation. Estate still snowed in. A few people have tried to get out and got stuck.
@Anne Marie Devlin: or each house just purchases one or two bags of cat litter and you do it yourselves
@B9xiRspG: Ya like why do people expect stuff for free? LPT is not for salt and grit for housing estates as using the money for such things would make sense.
@Anne Marie Devlin: salt grit won’t help when the snow is 3ft deep and nobody bothers clearing paths. Yesterday I spent hours clearing outside my house and neighbors one neighbor asked me was I nuts.
@Anne Marie Devlin: They did that here to 09/10 in Galway city anyway. But this time it was a disaster its like they forgot, no consistency. Housing estates a mess with frozen snow and slush, the main roads were not gritted Friday, especially the road to tuam could see the traction control light flashing on a few times. The main pedestrian street in Galway was full of compacted snow, completely inefficient sleepy Galway city and co. Councils. It would have taken a couple of hours to remove and grit shop street Friday.
@Tom Harpur: why bother clearing the path? Compacted snow and ice is much better got pulling a sled loaded with provisions over. I found the many cleared paths to be a terrible hindrance. Also if there is a freeze the cleared areas can then become lethally slippy. Not only is it a pointless activity but it becomes then virtue signaling to your neighbours who will hate you for it. Look at amazingly civic minded me out doing my duty while you all sit on your behinds you might as well be saying!
@Sean: *for pulling*
@brendan H: you said the magic word…”Friday”. And today is Saturday. Tomorrow is Sunday. Pretty much sums up why council didn’t pull it’s finger out.
Main roads all stayed open…fair play
@Leroy: that is well and fine….if the councils would clear the way to and from them. What good are clear main roads if everyone that needs to use them are trapped?
The freeze in 2010 lasted 3 weeks. Not seen any sign of that salt being used round here. Snowed in until it melts.
@Jane Alford: yeah but in 2010 it was november so getting colder, its just going to get warmer so it will thaw quite quickly
Main roads clear enough but that’s no good to the thousands trapped in estates with 4/5/6/7ft snow still and can’t even get out of their front door /garden.
@James O’Brien: boo hoo for them!
@James O’Brien: how would gritting helps ? Get a shovel and start digging?
@James O’Brien: It was made clear that main roads would be the priority. Then secondary roads. Worth remembering also that a lot of new estates are run by management committee’s. Council will clear to estate entrance, management will be responsible for clearing roads inside the estate.
They will always have it if they don’t use it. Country roads are forgotten always. Maybe when there’s no milk on the shelves they will realise their mistake
Salt is not the problem, but get it on the road is something else. I hear that in Dublin were 8 trucks ti clean the road. They made in total 300 km in a night, that is not even 30 km each. Well Leo that is progress!!
@Pierre Maanen: and was it somebody informed who told you that? Or are you just making that up? All main roads south Dublin are clear. M50 both lanes (yes I know the coco don’t look after these). Just another serial moaner!
It was better this time, but do we really need the country to go into meltdown anytime we get a bit of snow. Yes I know it doesn’t happen that often, but I thought the reaction of the German tourist on the news when he said “it’s only 20cm and everything just stops” was quite apt.
@Aging Lothario: it happens every 30 years. It does not matter literally one iota what some german c_nt thinks.
There are a lot more lessons to be learnt yet !!!
@MichaelandMary O’Grady: What like spend millions on preparation every year for snow that only falls once a decade
if you would like to know the salt comes from the Dead slSea Israel
@purple rain: so what, salt is salt. if it keeps the roads clear and safe it doesnt matter where its from
@purple rain: Good.
@purple rain: With a bit of luck, all the usual idiots will boycott roads treated with Israeli salt. I won’t hold my breath though.
@purple rain: Not true. One of the main suppliers is Salt Sales Ltd, the sales arm of Irish Salt Mining and Exploration. That company has been mining De-Icing Rock Salt at its Kilroot Mine Near Carrickfergus since 1965. It is one of the main suppliers to local authorities all over the UK and Iteland.
@Ben McArthur: despicable regime
have your say