AGENDA ITEM NO: 6
REPORT TO:
Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee
REPORT OF:
Chief Environment Officer
Chief Transportation and Asset Management Officer
REPORT NO:
CEnO/22/09S
DATE:
Wednesday 2 December 2009
CONTACT OFFICER: Steve Jones (Tel: 01978 729631)
Darren Williams (Tel: 01978 297140)
SUBJECT:
Network Management Plan – Co-ordination of
Roadworks
1.
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1
To advise Members of the introduction and development of the Network
Management Plan, its interaction with the themes of Strategic Transport
Management and its purpose as a delivery tool for the management and
control of the transport network in Wrexham.
1.2
To inform Members of the current arrangements to manage and co-ordinate
all work on the highway network to minimise disruption to the travelling public.
2.
SUMMARY
2.1
Wrexham County Borough Council as the Highway Authority is responsible for
ensuring both the safety of the network and minimising the disruption caused
by work carried out on it. The trunk roads in the County (A483 Wrexham
bypass and A5) are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government,
WAG, however, WCBC maintains these roads on behalf of their agents the
North Wales Trunk Road Agency (NWTRA).
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2.2
Part two of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) places a statutory duty on
local authorities to manage their road network, to ‘secure expeditious
movement of traffic’ delivered by adherence to the procedures within the
Council’s own Network Management Plan.
2.3
Strategic transport management in Wrexham will be delivered by appropriate
consideration of the Spatial Planning aspirations for the region, the priorities
and goals defined in the Wales Transport Strategy, the National Transport
Plan (for Trunk Routes), the Regional Transport Plan and operational delivery
of the procedures defined in the Council’s own Network Management Plan.
Strategic Transport Management in Wrexham is now incorporating the
themes of the various National and Regional transport related strategies. With
the delivery of the Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study we are able to
demonstrate the operational implementation of the themes contained within
the Network Management duty.
2.4
Whilst there is currently no statutory requirement to produce a Network
Management Plan, Welsh authorities have agreed to implement a consistent
approach by producing a document which is common to all authorities, but
tailored to the individual Council’s procedures and policies. The document will
be developed over the coming years in line with the emerging Local Transport
Strategy.
2.5
The TMA also requires the highway authority to manage temporary work or
activities having an impact on the network to ensure disruption is kept to a
minimum. There are currently numerous controls in place to ensure the
Council meets this requirement, including restricting roadwork during periods
of heavy demand on the highway.
3.
RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1
That Members acknowledge the work on the introduction and
development of the Network Management Plan to date and its linkage
with the co-ordinated approach to Strategic Transport Management.
3.2
That Members recommend to the Executive Board, the further
development of the Network Management Plan informed by Strategic
National and Regional Transport Strategy and the findings of the
Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study.
3.3
That Members recommend to the Executive Board, that a notice is
issued to all works promoters to prohibit planned works on traffic
sensitive routes into and around the town centre, from the first day of
late night shopping leading up to Christmas and the new year period.
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John Bradbury
Chief Environment Officer
and
Martin Wright
Chief Transportation and Asset Management Officer
4.
INFORMATION
4.1
Transport Infrastructure
4.1.1 The road network in Wrexham County Borough consists of 1,278km of
carriageway classified (By the code of practice) as follows: 



55 km of trunk road (A483 and A5) managed on behalf of NEWTRA
and WAG who own the road.
104 km of A Class roads which predominantly connect Wrexham to it’s
neighbouring Counties.
150 km of B Class roads, generally connecting the local villages.
969 km of C Class and Unclassified roads, making up the rest of the
network.
4.1.2 The footway network in Wrexham County Borough consists of 8,340 km of
footways classified (by the code of practice) as follows:
4 km of Prestige footways, ie very busy areas of the town centre.

10 km of Primary/Secondary Routes, ie serving urban/local shopping
centres.

300 km of Link Footways, ie linking local access footways, busy rural
footways.

526 km of local access footways, ie low usage estate road footways.
4.1.3 Wrexham has a growing network of sustainable transport routes in the County
Borough. The total length of cycle routes is 31 km, as classified (by the code
of practice):-
4.2

11.5 km of cycle lane forming part of the carriageway.

19.5 km of cycle lane not contiguous with the public footway or
carriageway.
Current Arrangements for dealing work on the highway
4.2.1 Wrexham’s citizen’s panel survey in 2008 indicated a varied level of
satisfaction with roadwork’s generally across the County. Whilst the
responses were generally positive, there were some areas that were
highlighted as needing improvement. It is important to note however
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that the majority of roadworks carried out across the County are
undertaken by 3rd party promoters and are not the Council’s responsibility nor
under its direct control.
4.2.2 There are on average each year:Notices of intent to carry out work on the highway, issued
by Statutory Undertakers.
Notices of intent to carry out highway maintenance work,
issued by WCBC.
Applications from private individuals to excavate in the
highway.
Applications to close roads to facilitate work.
3,500
Applications to place skips or scaffolding on the network.
450
500
40
150
Each of the above activities results in some disruption to the network
and therefore to the travelling public who use it.
4.2.3 The statutory bodies (Gas, Water, Telecom and Electricity companies) have a
statutory right to excavate and work on the highway, being required only to
provide the local authority with the specified notice for the work. The
Highways Authority are required to co-ordinate and advise on the timing,
traffic management arrangements and can place restrictions on planned
works by liaising with works promoter. This may include a requirement on the
promoter to carry out work during the evening/overnight period on traffic
sensitive routes
4.2.4 All activities impacting on the highway infrastructure are notified to and coordinated by the Network Manager employed within the Streetscene Section
of the Environment Department. A co-ordination meeting takes place at three
monthly intervals. Organisations represented at the meeting include Council
Departments, statutory undertakers and NWTRA.
4.2.5 All major works planned for the forthcoming period are discussed and coordinated to minimise disruption on the network.
4.2.6 The Network Manager receives electronically advanced notice of all work
before commencement. All major schemes are signed in advance and local
residents, businesses and local Members are informed of the work.
4.2.7 A weekly update indicating the location of all roadworks is published on the
Council web-site. Any work that is anticipated to cause significant disruption
is then reported in the local press.
4.2.8 North Wales Trunk Road Agency places an embargo which prohibits planned
works on the entire trunk road network during school holidays.
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Our Network Management Team serve a notice on all works promoters to
prohibit planned works on specific routes on specific dates affected by events,
parades and major holiday periods.
4.2.9 The Network management Plan is supported by other internal policy and
national guidance documents such as the The Winter Maintenance Policy and
various other emergency plans to deal with local and County wide incidents,
eg flooding at Bangor-on-Dee.
4.3
Strategic Transport Planning
4.3.1 Strategic transport planning is guided by the delivery of the aspirations of the
Spatial Plan, the priorities and goals defined in the Wales Transport Strategy,
the National Transport Plan and the ‘Taith’ Regional Transport Plan. ‘Taith’
Board Members Councillor Ron Davies and Councillor David A Bithell
represent Wrexham and sit on the NWTRA Strategic Board.
4.3.2 The recently commissioned Strategic Transport Accessibility Study for
Wrexham will provide a comprehensive analysis of multi-model transport
demands and constraints for Wrexham.
4.3.3 The study demonstrates how Wrexham is effectively and proactively
addressing the key Network Management Duty themes in its strategic
management plans for the transport network.
4.3.4 The study is an inclusive and area wide assessment of the transport network
and its ability to accommodate existing and future town centre access
demands. It will provide a robust examination of transport trends on the
network over the recent period. It is examining and evaluating the existing
and anticipated traffic movements, identifying and examining areas of
congestion and constraint and considering appropriate options for
improvement.
4.3.5 The overall objective of the study is to develop a robust, evidence led forward
plan for transport which will ensure Wrexham’s transport network is capable of
supporting future opportunities for continued economic growth.
4.4
Future Developments
4.4.1 Ensure all future operational policies (relating to the highway) presented to
Members for approval are assessed by the Traffic Manager (Network
Manager) to consider the impact on the highway users either once completed
or during construction.
4.4.2 Further develop the Network Management Plan informed by National,
Regional and the emerging Local Transport Strategy.
4.4.3 Further use and evaluation of the Citizens Panel to identify specific and
persistent problem areas, evaluate performance and produce targets for
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improvement. Introduce a measure to ensure the adopted procedures are
working, eg KPI’s.
4.4.4 Consider the future use of fixed penalty notices for work not notified correctly
and Section 74 of the Streetworks Act which allows for charges to be made
for schemes that overrun without sufficient reason.
4.4.5 Extend the co-ordination meeting to include all departments and organisations
promoting work or activities impacting on the highway network, eg planning
and events promoted by the Town Centre Manager.
5.
EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.1
An equalities impact assessment has been carried out of the plan. Each policy
within the plan will also be individually impact assessed
6.
RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
6.1
The Traffic Manager’s duties have been incorporated into the role of
existing staff within the Environment Department.
6.2
All other requirements will be met from existing budgets.
7.
LEAD MEMBER COMMENT
7.1
The development of the plan will form an essential element of an overall
strategy for the local highway infrastructure and to ensure road works are
managed in a pro-active manner reducing disruptions for road users.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
LOCATION
Information on the location of
all roadworks
Council’s website
People’s Voice Survey
Council’s website
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WEBSITE INFO.
Appendix 1
Development of The Network Management Plan
NMA Reference
Network Definition
Action
Review and Identify road classifications and where appropriate
submit proposed revisions to the Welsh Assembly Government for
approval and ratification.
• First phase, including Wrexham Industrial Estate Access Road
consequential proposals are presently being considered by the
WAG.
Dept
TAM
Timescale
June 2009
Co-ordination of All
Activities
Produce performance reports to compare Statutory Undertakers
(SU’s) performance against Council work
Consider issuing Fixed Penalty Notices on Statutory Undertakers for
noticing offences under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
Consider charging Statutory Undertakers for works that are
unreasonably prolonged under the New Roads and Street Works Act
1991
Issue S58 and S58A Notices to prevent any works following
substantial highway or utility scheme.
Env
July 2010
Emergency Planning
Tactical Diversions – To be set up for emergency closures of the
A483 and other traffic sensitive locations.
Env
Technology
Introduction of Key Performance Indicators to measure the
performance of the Term Maintenance Contractor
Real-time Network Monitoring Solutions (the basis of an Urban
Traffic Management Control system for Wrexham).
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May 2010
May 2010
July 2010
Env/TAM
Subject to NWTRA
January 2010
March 2010
Parking Strategy
Cross Boundary
Parking Strategy development currently being considered by
Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, current initiatives
being implemented include;
• Off-street car park tariff and length of stay reviewed on
occupancy levels
• Pilot Resident’s Parking Scheme proposed for the Bradley Road
Area
• Real-time Traffic Information System programmed
• Management and Implementation of additional programme of
Traffic Regulation Orders specifically targeted at managing onstreet parking demands
• Consideration of longer-term parking management options
resulting from the widespread application of new parking
initiatives and the Transport Accessibility Study.
•
Taith RTP Pre-works projects for 2009/10:
• Multi-Modal Corridor Management Study in partnership with
Flintshire County Council. Analysing the transport corridor
between Wrexham and Mold.
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TAM
Env/TAM
In development in
conjunction with E&R
Scrutiny Committee,
reported to the
Executive Board
1/12/09
March 2010