"What can be said with very little doubt is that, once this cluster of
cold winters has finished, we will have another lengthy run of mild and
rainy ones, and if we spend piles of cash on snowploughs and de-icing
equipment, we may come to regret it."

Dave

I wouldn't count your chickens Dave, things have changed!

There is nothing to suggest that we will have another run of 20 or so
years without harsh winters, maybe 3 or 4 average ones with a really
mild one thrown in for good measure, followed by another batch of
colder ones again.