Don't forget the bigger picture...
Let's say we spend a fortune on snow clearance equipment and chemicals - think of it as like paying buildings and contents insurance for your house. You hope you never use it. But, say we did spend the money, did the training and got ourselves up to the standard of the Scandinavians (and even got to point where a braking action is given as part of a METAR instead of an excuse?), would be of any use if the passengers/cargo couldn't get to and from the airport? Heathrow is a pain in the bum to get to at the best of times, let alone in snow. Personally, I think they have done a pretty good job with what little they have, as have Gatwick. The only real solution, as ever, is to look at the whole transport system and decide what needs to work and under what conditions. Someone has to decide if we need bread and milk in shops or is it more important to have airports open so we can fly to Disneyland. Once we have taken that decision, we can then equip and train (or not) to provide the level of service for the prevailing conditions.
PM