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Winter tyres not practical for Manx buses

Wed, 21 Mar 2018

The Infrastructure Minister insists it wouldn't be practical to fit the Island's buses with winter tyres during periods of adverse weather.

Ray Harmer told this month's sitting of Tynwald that such tyres wear very quickly when used on roads that aren't snowy or icy, so would have to be taken on and off as wintry weather is forecast.

However, the cost of fitting and removing tyres based on conditions as well as storing 450 winter tyres when they're not needed would be too expensive according to the Minister.

Mr Harmer insists the Island's climate doesn't justify using such tyres, and that gritting the Manx roads is a better use of his Department's resources.

Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson asked whether a few buses could be fitted with the tyres to operate school bus routes and keep the schools open during such periods, but the Minister believes the unpredictable nature of snow and ice would make this too difficult.

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