h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I live in a small road, in a small village. There's a yellow grit bin about 300 yards in that ---> direction and 2 a few yards apart 300 yards in that <--- direction but none actually in my little road inbetween.

Even when I've lived in other places I've always been someone to go and get some grit in a small bucket to spread on the road. I think it's a neighbourly thing to do.

A couple of years ago, in this village, I was filling my bucket from that bin ---> and a woman came out of her house to challenge me about removing it. She said I had no right to take it. Hmmm. Well today it's happened again! This time I went to one of the 2 bins in <--- direction and a man came out to accuse me of taking it without permission. He said that I should go and buy some! I said I was only trying to be a good neighbour, but that was clearly a bad thing to do, so did he want me to put the grit back. He grudgingly said I could use it "This time" but not to come back.

My question is - does anyone know if the grit in the yellow council bins "belong" only to the road they are in? Since I've now twice had an argument about this, I'm beginning to doubt my belief that I can go and get a small bucket from my nearest bin and that's what I pay my council tax for.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1098033/Good-Samaritan-teenager-salted-paths-elderly-held-police-hours-accused-stealing-grit.html?ITO=1490

RF

grit bins are usually placed for general public availability. They do not 'belong' to any one road or house.
Some councils only put them near specific spots (such as notoriously badly iced junctions or steep hills) and in those cases there is a case for some intentionality in their placing. But they are for road users and not residents, there is no 'ownership' by those who live near them no matter what their fuedal delusions might be.

If in doubt, phone your council just to be sure.

Sounds to me like you life slap bang in the middle of a couple of right pillocks.

ah, but that's rail property not council.

Grittish Rail?

B

you're on form today B

I wondered if that was the problem, did he have to trespass to get it from the rail depot? I don't want to be prosecuted for grit rustling!

So grit in the bins is for just anyone to use then? Pardon my ignorance, I'd always assumed it was for the council's gritting vehicles to refill from or something?

I suspect they just saw a couple of youngsters arrive, bag a load of grit and then disappear. Which, to be fair, I can't blame them for investigating - there are those who have been known to nick the lot for their own personal private use (what as I don;t know but there...). If yer within walking distance and there isn't a really obvious accident spot or steep hill right by the container you should be fine.

OTOH phone the council...

Shale and shale alike, you know.

Thank you, I'm here all week.

B

"I'd always assumed it was for the council's gritting vehicles to refill from or something?"
Nope, they come fully loaded from the depot.

The grit bins are actually for the use of 'road users' - not the local residents or the council or anyone else. It's for when you are driving along and get stuck you can get out your car and find some grit as people tend not to carry their own nowadays. I can remember my dad in the 80s going to work in the car and having a large shovel, a plank of wood and either a bag of sand or rock salt in the boot.

There's one near where I live that'll get you attacked if you try to take any grit from it - a homeless (and not quite sane) woman keeps her sleeping bag and things in it during the day.

Oddly enough, the first time I was challenged about this, a couple of years ago, the woman did seem to imply thatI wanted a bucket of grit for my own personal private use, and seemed very doubtful about my proposal to use it on the road. Like Ictoan, I've never worked out what she thought I would do with it! The mind boggles!

Actually todays bloke accused me of being from the next village along and making a special trip to steal it. This is more shocking. Rumour has it they all have two heads and snuggle up to or something.

Hmmm. The only possible use I could think of would be giving it to your chickens...

To help them cross the road?

Do they have Grit Expectations?

B

Ok, it would seem odd if you've never raised chickens...

They need grit to help them digest their food. They eat it, and it stays in their stomach for a while.

But the grit in these bins has salt in. No good for chickens, surely.

Well, if you're desperate enough to be stealing it... What do I know!

"Grit bins (UK centric)
Post: 2
Posted 39 Minutes Ago by Reddyfreddy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...accused-stealing-grit.html?ITO=1490

RFevilgrin"




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