Scotland risks shortage of ‘road salts’
Scotland is battling to ward off a shortage of salt to grit its roads as the country is facing two weeks of heavy snowfall. The Scottish Government was forced to step in last night to ensure there was enough salt to grit roads in Fife. The salt supplies were said to be at “critically low levels in many councils across Scotland“.
The transportation in Scotland has almost come to a still and, if the situation prevails the public life will be numbed. There are already warnings of a fresh snowfalls in central and northern parts of the country. Temperatures at nights in central Scotland are expected to be between -5C and -10C but could reach -15C, creating instant ice problems where there is snow or rainfall. Several road mishaps and accidents have reported in the country on contrary to the heavy snowfalls.
The severe weather conditions are said to affect the major businesses that would impact Scotland’s economy as poor travel conditions stop people from returning to work from the Christmas and New Year break. Yet, the Transport Scotland seems to reassure the public that there is enough salt to keep Scotland’s motorways open.
Car-free games in the offing
October, 9
Can you all imagine, a Commonwealth Game with all spectators travelling by public transport to reach the venue? Yes that’s true; plans have been worked out for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, with Glasgow running strong in the bid to host the event. This surprising and interesting decision was taken keeping in view the holiday period during the time of games. It is also decided to provide free tickets on public transport to ticket holders, and there will not be any parking facility at the venues.
In order to make sure this plan works out, the bid organisers are looking up to the transport projects going on, which are due to be over by 2012. This transport project includes the £210 million Glasgow airport rail link, £500 million M74 extension and a £69 million north-south “East End regeneration route”. It is also noted that about 10,000 athletes, journalist and other officials will be commuted by means of buses using Games lanes, where traffic lights will turn green to speed journeys without any jerks. About 325,000 spectators are expected to reach Glasgow to witness the event.
Glasgow is getting ready to embrace the 2014 Commonwealth Games with enough infrastructure and funds to host this big event successfully. The bid director Derek Casey said, we have planned a ‘compact games’ with most of the venues just 20 minutes from the athletes village. He added Glasgow has hosted many events but Commonwealth Games is the biggest of all events. Glasgow is all set to be the host to this huge sporting festival.
The main area which organizers are looking at is the traffic management, Robert Booth, Glasgow city council’s executive director for land and environmental services said, people are motivated to work from home and the influx of Lorries into the city will be diverted to enter city during nights. Steps are also planned to improve the Park-and-ride sites all over the city. While experts are commending the decision to make Commonwealth Games a car-free event, and also look up to the massive transport improvement in Glasgow.
Contenders for the race
The 2014 Commonwealth games might be another Commonwealth Game event for the rest of the world, but along with all athletes two more contenders are preparing hard to stand out in this grand event. These two contenders are Abuja in Nigeria and Glasgow in Scotland, both these cities are battling it hard to play a proud host to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Time is still left before the curtains raises with the official announcement of the host nation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.