Andy before I start just want to say a well done on bringing us the toilet closure story and thread which was completely rocket fuelled from the moment you mentioned it...who'd have thought that would take off in such a way, if the newspapers dont take that one up I'll be eating my hat so I will.
But yes in the old days there used to be much more of clearing snow away by the individual. Shopkeepers used to do it, but all the shops then were owned by individuals, so there was some pride in it. It was a job being a shopkeeper, mostly for men, and these guys used to get their shovels out and do the snow clearing business. Im talking about Ireland here now but I guess it was the same here. Nowadays shops are owned by distant conglomerates and somethimes staffed by very young females and there is no chance of seeing these getting the shovels out.
But this american method could work in say cul-de sacs or something, but I think Roger is right, if someone slips on your pavement you could be in trouble. I know for example the pavement outside each of the premises in the London Road is the responsibility of the owners, if say it is uneven or something and someone falls just passing by, well there are some legal concerns there, and it would be the same with snow Im sure. It is a weird situation where the individual is responsible for a public pavement but it is indeed fact...who said the law was an ass...not me of course!
