Bishop Hill Inquiry into winter transport chaos
Jan 24, 2011 Climate: MetOffice The House of Commons Transport Select Committee is to launch an inquiry into the chaos in Britain's transport network this winter. No doubt the Met Office's "warning" will receive an airing. (H/T GWPF)
Transport Committee announces inquiry on the impact on transport of recent adverse weather conditions
The impact of the recent cold weather on the road and rail networks in England and Wales and on the UK’s airports, including the extent to which lessons were learnt from winter 2009-10, the provision of accurate weather forecasts to transport providers in advance of the bad weather, and the recommendations of the Quarmby reviews of the resilience of England’s transport systems in 2010.
The Committee expects to hear oral evidence on this issue in February and would welcome written evidence from those affected by the adverse weather conditions by Wednesday 2 February 2011.
Reader Comments (21)
I'm freezing my arse off here in NH. -9 degrees at my house. Colder than witches tit in a brass bra. If only AGW were true.
Oh yeah, and more snow is on the way Tuesday - Thursday....my kids are already making tunnels in the piles of snow all around.
"the extent to which lessons were learnt from winter 2009-10"
Or not, as the case may be. I assume we can expect the phrase 'lessons will be learned' to appear in the new report and, yet again, they won't be. Those who do not learn from history, etc; but it's very annoying when they continue to draw large salaries...
BTWE, I'm off to chop some more logs, and I live off the South coast!
BTWE = by the way, everyone.. :-)
What the Met Office has to explain is how their own models predicted a 60-80% chance of above normal winter temperatures turned into a prediction of a 40% risk of colder than normal winter temperatures.
What the UK government and the Met Office hav to explain is how a Met Office prediction of a 40% risk of colder than normal winter temperatures turned into official government advice that temperatures during November and December were "likely to be average or colder".
What Roger Harribin has to explain is how a Met Office prediction of a 40% risk of colder than normal winter temperatures turned into a prediction that the UK is "likely to face an extremely cold winter".
Nothing adds up. We seem to have 4 Met Office winter forecasts.
"Deputies' heads will roll," but the real culprits will retain their positions.*
* (their positions = heads in CAGW sand).
"BTWE = by the way, everyone.. :-)"
We'll MAKE that stick! I'll use it on Facebook every day, until everyone' using it :o)
Just thinking out aloud in these times of hardship and proactive efficiency. That two of the public services that utilise huge amounts of tax payer funds would probably choose their moments to try and stitch up a new coalition government a bit more wisely.
You get the feeling that the mandarins ruling the roost in both departments have decided that they are having none of it from this upstart new 'in crowd' in Downing Street who actually dared to talk budgetry cuts, and are readily disposed to teach them a lesson in old school public service lethargy.
I do so hope that the gloves come off, I really do there could be an interesting outcome if it is kept public in the new age of local accountability.
Kevin
I'm freezing my arse off here in NH. -9 degrees at my house. Colder than witches tit in a brass bra. If only AGW were true.
I assume "NH" means "New Hampshire" and not "North Hampshire" -- and you are using Fahrenheit.
-9 F = -22.7 C.
This should be in downtown London in a week or so. Enjoy the brisk "weather" over there.
The findings of the Transport Committee inquiry on the impact on transport of recent adverse weather conditions
3 in 10 chance that we received a document from the Met Office
3 in 10 chance that we read the document from the Met Office
4 in 10 chance that we did not understand the document from the Met Office
Conclusions and way forward
3 in 10 chance that we will not lose the next document from the Met Office
3 in 10 chance that we will understand that winter comes ever year.
4 in 10 chance that it will go dark before morning
Summary: There is an increased risk that we will ensure a better sort of chaos for next year.
Don Pablo
Yeah, New Hampshire...near Manchester, NH Yes, I guess we are using Fahrenheit. My furnace is working over-time.
Enjoy when it shows up over there.
Thanks Bish, you have reminded me that a couple of weeks ago I sent a letter about winter resilience to the relevant people at Devon County Council regarding their policy on climate change and winter resilience. I was a bit pissed off at the time, having been snowed and iced in for nearly two weeks. To date I have had no reply (surprise, surprise).
I criticised them for their policy on road surfaces suitable for heat waves but not cold waves and for relying on the Met Office for forecasts. I told them to get seasonal forecasts from private forecasters with a proven track record. With the Met Office a major employer in Exeter and close to the Devon County Council Offices (known as the dream factory), I'm sure it will have gone down like a lead balloon.
I'd like to give evidence to the inquiry, but there are too many other things to fight against at the moment.
Kevin
i knew NH well, having worked for DEC in Nashua. That was about 30 years ago, the last time there were three major blizzards in the area, Boston was so messed up that we flew blood from the Nashua Airport -- which was open -- to BOS and landed on the one open taxiway with light aircraft. Later DEC send their helicopters in from Nashua with blood and critical medicines. If it weren't for New Hampshire, Boston would have gone under.
It appears little has changed in 30 years as Messychewsits is a mess once again. The roads in Nashua were open the whole time while US 3 was closed at the Messyshewsits border -- they couldn't plow that for two days, as I remember.
'Lessons will be learnt...'
Again....
"BTWE"
Thank you, Simon! As you may have noticed, E is next to the W on the keyboard - my fingers might be more accurate if it wasn't so bloody cold...
Don Pablo
Small world. The place where I work bought the DEC buildings/campus. I walk/run past the helipad in the warmer months. Also, I know one of the sons of the owner of DEC. We live in the same town.
Yeah, Taxachuessettes hasn't changed much.
Very cool!
"Nothing adds up. We seem to have 4 Met Office winter forecasts." --Mac
A veritable brown snowstorm.
"Resilience?" Is that a synonym for "robust," Phillip?
Kevin
I am not sure which "owner" you are referring to, but I assume Ken Olsen. Great person.
I dearly loved those DEC helicopters. I did a good deal of international travel for DEC and I could drive about two miles from my apartment to the DEC helipad in Nashua (right next to the FAA control center), park my car in their lot, fly to BOS in 10 minutes and be dropped off in the terminal, which was next to the international departures. I never had to deal with that ^&#^%# tunnel.
Not very green, I guess, but I did get a good taste for the good life of the international elite, like Al Gore and the rest.
My point to raising this is the weather you are having now is just a replay of what happened in 1978-9 when I decided to move to California. In many ways it was the "Coming Ice Age" that would freeze Boston in the end of 1970s and 1980's that made me decide to move. Ironic now that the same weather today is caused by "Global Warming".
BIG extract coming out of Sissons' book detailing aspects of bias at BBC and how it has affected the argument on climate change.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350206/BBC-propaganda-machine-climate-change-says-Peter-Sissons.html
Don Pablo
Yes, the Olsen family. Yeah, they are great people. I am at the campus in Merrimack which borders Nashua to the North. It's a beautiful campus: woods, trails, soccer field, volleyball, helipad. hahaha.
What comes around goes around...:-) This is a great testimony to our cyclical and normal climate change....
Great meeting you out here.