Grizzler:
How about underfloor heating...it works for football pitches
Somehow, I donīt see LHR operating with just one runway for whatever time it takes to install such device.
Also, in other countries, the army is there to help in situations like this, with their equipment and their staff. I read that the government offered the armyīs help and BAA refused it!
And what was stopping the army helping out clearing roads, directing traffic, clearing alternative routes, etc? Armies are not only for warfare operations!
As per the prison population, I think that, as long as in this country we have a very clear definition of the applicable punishments available for specific crimes, unless this punishment includes "forced labour", we would be making a mockery of the judiciary and their fair application of the law. We donīt want the law of the jungle here.
A more sensible approach would have been to rally a team of volunteers by recruiting temporarily those unemployed people living around airports, giving them the chance to get a much needed few extra quid, and providing the airport operators with the extra staff they need. Although I donīt think it would be of any use if airports lack the necessary equipment. Is a shovel really that expensive?