The hole problem

It is not just Bracknell forest, but in a great many other Local authorities, that they are working flat out to repair large potholes that have appeared across the country’s road network following the worst winter weather for 30 years.

A condition called “freeze-thaw” has attacked our roads. As the water in a road freezes it expands, causing the surface of the road to break up. Councils have asked the public to report problem areas so that holes can be fixed as soon as possible. Call BFC on 01344 352000, or log it online at http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/potholes (Use the highway damage report form on the right). I reported several roads in Priestwood, before the last freeze, but roads like Shepherds lane have suffered even more since. One worries about the knock on effect on next years highways budget, already constrained but the current monetary situation.

At least the rubbish collections are getting back into order. Our HUGE pile of recycling was collected today. We had a lot of it because we were away on the collection day before Christmas, and forgot to ask someone to put the bin out for us. The residuals bin normaly does not have that much in it.
In an article in the LGA First magazine the chairman of the LGA environment board, says rubbish and recycling had been collected as normal wherever possible – but public safety had to come first. “Sending a 26-tonne dustcart down an icy residential street packed with cars and pedestrians is extremely dangerous.”

A further brief on the situation is given here 

Snow, grit, birds, and things

It might not seem like it, but the gritters went out last night and this morning to prepare primary routes, but at a reduced rate of spreading in line with government advice to conserve salt stocks.

I had to drop some people at Heathrow Airport at 7am, and made it there and nearly back. The snow has covered up all our hard work on the road, and the car has to stay at the bottom of the hill for the time being. The birds were waiting for me to put more food out for them when I came back. I must get out to the shops to get more food for the birds. I must check back to the RSPB website to see what it is they need. They have water available from our artificial stream (we are having to keep it trickling through to avoid it freezing), and from a couple of trays.

Three gritters have been out this morning on the primary routes, and one doing the principal roads. Traffic congestion around the borough, caused by the snow of course, is slowing progress. Unfortunately It looks like the bin collection plan is back to square one. I will get out shopping one the main roads look less busy, and the griiters have had a chance to work. Probably after 10ish to allow for the belated school openings today.

Tracking Trash, and Watching Waste

3,000 pieces of rubbish, donated by volunteers, will be tagged in New York, Seattle and London. In order to monitor how rubbish moves around the cities and beyond, a MIT team has developed a small mobile sensor. Basically a miniature cell phone with limited functionality. They say that the system should be able to track rubbish around the globe.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8149183.stm

I will be interesting to see the results.

The team also says that it hopes that the technology can be miniaturised and made cheap enough that the tags could one day be attached to everything.

But does that mean that we might en up throwing even more away? I remember a company I worked for asking that when photocopies were made, a copy was to be set to an administrator. This was so that excessive copying could be tracked. Of course there was then outrage from the admin department that the use of the photocopier had doubled.

Also in the article it says that the MIT team has previously revealed the movements of people around cities, such as Rome and Copenhagen, by analysing mobile phone signals.

Perhaps a bit scary that - Who is able to do this monitoring?