Originally Posted by
Shuttle-Bored
Already happens in the UK. Father Shuttle-Bored gets a snow plough blade provided by the local authority and is then called out as and when required in the Winter. The system works relatively well - leaves the gritters/council ploughs to concentrate on the main roads, and keeps the local roads clearer.
Did hear of a farmer in Edinburgh charging £1,000 to clear a private housing estate which the council hadn't got to with a gritter/plough after a week of snow. Given the job took 8 hours, not a bad rate! (or put in context, it was about £20 per house).
Yes, it certainly used to happen when I lived in Ayrshire - it was a nice supplementary income for the local farmers there. I think they secretly prayed for a bit of snow.
I still recall p!ssing myself last year when I heard the local councils were advising people NOT to clear pavelents in front of their properties on H&S grounds, saying they could open themselves to prosecution if someone had an accident where they had cleared
. Here in Germany all householders are legally required to keep any pavements/paths in front of their property clear of snow, and that it should be done before 8am. If you don't you can be fined and have to pay the bill if the council clears it on your behalf!