I would have to say that people need to use a little common sense - if they are still using roads like Canonbie and Westwood Park as short cuts in this sort of weather they need their heads examined.

On another point - my husband decided to drive up Sunderland Road at seven a.m. this morning. Not a major hill by Forest Hill standards, but there was lots of fresh snow and we have a rear-wheel drive car. Needless to say, we got stuck quite quickly. Entirely our own fault. As we were debating who would push and who would steer, a man came out of the house beside us. Hurrah, I thought, neighbourly help. Er, no. He got into his own car and drove off (down the hill, obviously). What a gent.

I've been busy the past week clearing my drive and the area outside my house. Armed only with a small spade and a few kilos of table salt I have kept the pavement outside my house clear of ice. It's not difficult. It is an urban myth that you will be sued if you clear the snow and someone subsequently slips (I heard in on Radio 4 so it must be true). I understand that the council have to prioritise roads over pavements.

Having said that, they don't seem to have gritted any pavements at all, whereas main pavements in East Dulwich have been done. The pavements around the back of Forest Hill station weren't gritted last Feb either, so they can't blame stolen grit. And how exactly do you steal a consignment of road salt? And why?