Anyone need a hand giving birth?

Any time, tiger

(as long as I don't have to go near a kitchen...)

 

He... I don't claim to be right - just agressively defend the
indefensible. It's the only way.

I do still reckon it's just salt though.

 

Here's what happens in Northumberland:

<quote>
In the past ( 20 years or more ago ) we used to use a mixture of salt
and whinstone chippings. The salt helped to melt snow and ice, while the
chippings helped to give a certain amount of grip on icy surfaces. This
practice ceased, mainly because of the amount of claims from motorists
who's cars were damaged by grit thrown up by other vehicles. The other
reason was that the chippings tended to block the highways drainage
systems and the cost of keeping road gullies clean was becoming more
expensive.

Currently, we use rock salt sourced from Boulby Potash mines in
Cleveland. We have used this salt for many years now and it is always
the same material although it can vary in colour and size of granules.
Rock salt stored under cover is more effective than salt stored in the
open and needs about 30% less to have the same effect. When we carry out
precautionary salting ( done in advance of predicted frosty conditions
), we spread the salt at about 10 grammes per square metre. This will be
increased to about 30 grammes per square metre when clearing snow.
</quote>

So, it's rock salt. No sugar. No animal fat.

 

Eddie says...

In Northumberland

 

Yes.

If you think it's different anywhere else, why don't you contact the
county council (or whoever's responsible) and ask?

 

Eddie says...

We did[1], and it's different here.

[1] One of Pip's mates is the bloke in charge of gritting one of the
counties that borders Beds

 

And Swindon. And North Wiltshire. And Kent. And Surrey (I think).

Phil

 

And?

Come on, the suspense is killing me.

 

Eddie says...

Don't expect me to get technical on your donkey, cos I haven't got a
clue what they are putting down here, but it aint pure rock salt.

 

And mine