Stone me! The gritters...
Stone me! The gritters are out - and this time it’s because the weather is too hot. Sweltering temperatures have increased the risk of melting tarmac. Now, hot-under-the-collar bosses at County Durham and Cumbria councils have ordered workers to spray surfaces with crushed rock dust, instead of the usual ice-busting salt. It should keep the bitumen in place on the road and off tyres.
The controversial plan...
The controversial plan involves setting up a "freight interchange" on the outskirts of the town, where all lorries will stop to deliver goods. A fleet of electric vehicles will then take cargo on the final leg of its journey, to local shops and businesses. The aim is to create a steady stream of eco-friendly motors travelling throughout the day, in place of the early-morning goods vehicle rush.
A spokeswoman for the council said: "The proposal will be submitted to the Government next March, and we should hear back later in 2006. We believe a freight interchange would be a good way of ridding York of traffic, as well as pollution."
A period of public consultation is planned, but if the scheme gets the green light, up to í‚á£31million could be invested. A similar plan has also been piloted in the smaller town of Shaftesbury, Dorset, and several are already in operation elsewhere in Europe.