!
Metropolitan
Borough of Wirral
TECHNICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE POLICY
David Green, Director
Technical Services Department
Town Hall
Bebington
Wirral
CH63 7PT
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1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance - Code of Practice for Maintenance
Management
The code of practice for maintenance management was published in July 2001.
The code is an advisory framework for highway maintenance which offers guidance
and standards to achieve best value by way of specific objectives.
Those objectives are:-
1.2
i)
To encourage the development and adoption and regular review of policies for
highway maintenance incorporating the principles of integrated transport,
sustainability and best value.
ii)
To encourage participation by members of the community in the preparation
of programmes and be responsive to their needs as users of the local
highway network.
iii)
To adopt an efficient accountable and consistent approach to the collection of
information relating to the highway infrastructure and its condition for both
local and national purposes.
iv)
To continually review the technical and operational management regime in
determining local practice and standards.
Objectives of the Council’s Policy
This policy has been written on the same basis and is established on the principle
that highway maintenance and network management should be managed with the
objective of delivering safety, serviceability and sustainability.
These three objectives form the framework of a highway maintenance strategy which
must be based on the ability to maintain the highway network for the safe and
convenient movement of people and goods. The same three objectives also form
the basis of an effective network management regime with the emphasis on:-
iii)
i)
Network safety, i.e. complying with the statutory obligation of the authority and
meeting users needs.
ii)
Network serviceability, i.e. providing effective management of the highway
network asset by ensuring availability, maintaining reliability and integrity and
enhancing quality.
Network sustainability, i.e. maximising cost over time and value to the community in
the choice of materials used, and maximising environmental contribution in the use
of recycled materials.
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2.0
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
2.1
Legal Requirements
Duty of Care to maintain highways Maintainable at public expense
Local Highway Authorities have a general duty of care to users and the community to
maintain the highway in a condition fit for its purpose.
Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on local Highway Authorities to
maintain highways maintainable at public expense.
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3.0
STRATEGY AND HIERARCHY
3.1
Highway Maintenance Strategy
The principles of an effective Highway Maintenance Strategy should include:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
a detailed inventory of all components of the network
a statement of highway maintenance policies and procedures
a defined hierarchy for all elements of the network to meet the needs of the
highway user
a consistent approach for inspecting, recording, prioritising and programming
maintenance works
the effective use of limited resources to achieve safety, serviceability and
sustainability
procedures for dealing with the implications of winter service operations,
statutory utility works, deficient drainage systems and the planning of
major/minor highway improvement/reconstruction schemes on the availability
of the network to the user
the effective management of the Council’s contractors operations in relation
to:a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
3.2
surfacing and reconstruction schemes
street lighting repairs and renewal
highway drainage minor works and gully cleansing
traffic signal maintenance
grounds and tree maintenance
Network Hierarchy
The code recommends the importance of ensuring that the hierarchy for both
carriageways and footways adopted by the authority reflects the needs, priorities and
actual use of each road in the network.
This policy has incorporated the recommendations of the code in determining the
categories for both carriageway and footway hierarchies and taken into account local
circumstances such as the influence of schools, hospitals and facilities for the elderly
and less able.
3.2.1 Carriageway Hierarchy
This policy categorises the carriageway hierarchy description in the following way.
a)
Category 1 – Strategic Route – Principal A road between primary
destinations; a route for fast moving traffic with little frontage access or
pedestrian traffic. Parked vehicles are prohibited and there are few junctions.
The A41 Rock Ferry/New Ferry By Pass falls into this category.
b)
Category 2 – Main Distributor – Primary urban network – Short-medium
distance traffic; speed limits are usually 40 mph or less, parking is restricted at
peak times and there are positive measures for pedestrian safety.
The following therefore are all considered to be category 2 roads.
A41 – New Chester Road, Chester Street, Canning Street
A540 – Chester Road, Telegraph Road, Column Road, Grange Road, Meols
Drive
A553 – Market Street, Birkenhead Road, Hoylake Road, Fender Lane,
Bidston By-Pass, Hoylake Road, Laird Street, Park Road North Conway
Street
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A5137 – Brimstage Road
A551 – Barnston Road, Arrowe Park Road, Upton By-Pass, Upton Road,
Pasture Road, Leasowe Road
A552 – Woodchurch Road, Singleton Avenue, Borough Road
A5029 – Whetstone Lane, Exmouth Street, Watson Street, Tower Road
A554 – Birkenhead Road, Church Road, Brighton Street, King Street,
Seabank Road, Rowson Street, Kings Parade, Bayswater Road, North
Wallasey Approach, Bidston Link Road
A5139 – Docks Links North and South Dock Road
A5027 – Upton Road, Park Road North, Duke Street, Gorsey lane
c)
Category 3 – Secondary Distribution – Classified roads, bus routes carrying
local traffic with frontage access and frequent junctions. In urban areas these
roads have predominantly 30 mph speed limits and high levels of pedestrian
activity with some crossing facilities including zebra, pelican crossings etc. onstreet parking is generally unrestricted except for safety reasons.
The following roads therefore fall into the secondary distributor category.
B5151 – Mount Road, Storeton Road, Ingestre Road, Talbot Road, Bidston
Road, Boundary Road
A5030 – Cleveland Street
B5147 – Argyle Street, Clifton Crescent
A5058 – Poulton Bridge Road
B5145 – Breck Road
A551 – Wallasey Village
B5477 – Wallasey Village, Harrison Drive
B5139 – Greasby Road, Frankby Road, Blackhorse Hill
d)
Category 4 – Link Road – Roads linking the main and secondary network with
frontage access and frequent junctions. In urban areas they are residential or
industrial roads with 30 mph speed limits random pedestrian movements and
uncontrolled parking.
The following roads can be considered to be link roads.
Old Hall Road, Stadium Road, Thermal Road, Pool Lane
B5137 - Croft Drive East, Spital Road, Brimstage Road
B5136 – Church Road, The Village
Claughton Road, Park Road, South Park Road West
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Oxton Road, Woodchurch Road
B5144 – Kelvin Road, Wheatland Lane
A551 – Mainwaring Road, Liscard Road, Wallasey Road, St Hilary Brow
A551 – Borough Road
A5145 - Poulton Road
B5143 – Rake Lane, Rowson Street
B5146 – Corporation Road
A5030 – Beaufort Road
A5058 – Wallasey Bridge Road
Saughall Massie Road, West Kirby Road
Saughall Massie Road
Pump Lane, Heron Road
B5138 – Pensby Road
B5141 – Village Road, Sandy Lane, Banks Road, Heath Road, Teehey Lane,
Kings Road, Borough Road
e)
Category 5 – Local Access Roads – Roads serving limited numbers of
properties carrying mostly access traffic. In urban areas they are minor link
roads such as residential roads or cul de sacs.
This description covers the remaining 85% approx. of the local highway
network.
3.2.2 Footway Hierarchy
The Code advises that footway maintenance standards will not necessarily be
reflected by the classification of the road it serves.
It is more likely to be determined by factors such as:a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Pedestrian volume; usage and proposed usage.
Accident and other risk assessment.
Age and type of material in footway.
Character and traffic use of adjoining carriageway.
Local factors, proximity of schools, age and distribution of population, medical
centres, hospitals, government offices etc.
3.2.3 This policy categorises the local footway hierarchy in the following way.
a)
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Category 1A Prestige Walking Zone, these are prestige areas in towns and
cities with exceptionally high usage. Currently there are no footways in the
Borough which meet this classification but the planned redevelopment of
areas such as Grange Road in Birkenhead may result in the reassessment of
this category.
b)
Category 1 Primary Walking Route, normally busy shopping and business
areas, or links to railway or bus stations.
There are a number of primary walking routes in the Borough which are listed
below and these routes are inspected for safety purposed on a monthly basis.
Market Street
Grange Road
Dee Lane
The Crescent
Banks Road
Hoylake Road
Upton Road/Hoylake Road
Wallasey Road
Seaview Road
Liscard Village
Liscard Road
Liscard Way
Pasture Road
Hoylake Road
Victoria Road
Woodchurch Road
Grange Road
Grange Road
Grange Road West
Oxton Road
Whetstone Lane
Oliver Street
St Johns Street
Catherine Street
Exmouth Street
New Chester Road
Bebington Road
New Ferry Road
Allport Lane
The Precinct
Telegraph Road
The Mount
Pensby Road
c)
Kings Gap to Hoyle Road
Riversdale Road to Westbourne Road
Grange Road to South Parade
Grange Road to Banks Road
Dee Lane to South Road
Upton Road to Borrowdale Road
Sandbrook Lane to Rosslyn Drive
Belvidere Road to Seaview Road
Wallasey Road to Thirlmere Drive
Seaview Road to Queen Street
Liscard Crescent to Martins Lane
Liscard Village to Mill Lane
Maryland Lane to Hoylake Road at (Knutsford
Road)
Sandbrook Lane to Upton Road
Rowson Street to Victoria Parade
Osmaston Road to Temple Road
Argyle Street to Grange Pavement
St Johns Street to Grange Road West
Grange Road to Cole Street
Balls Road to Grange Road West
Borough Road to Grange Road
Exmouth Street to St Johns Street
Claughton Road to Grange Road
Claughton Road to Grange Road
Grange Road to Claughton Road
Sefton Road to Boundary Road
Boundary Road to New Chester Road
New Chester Road to Salisbury Drive
The Cross to June Avenue Planter
Legion Lane to The Rake
Tesco’s entrance to Boundary Lane
Telegraph Road to Mount Avenue
Telegraph Road to May Road
Category 2 Secondary Walking Route, routes with medium usage through
local areas feeding to primary routes, local shopping centres large schools
and industrial areas etc.
This type of footway is inspected every 3 months and the locations are as
follows.
Saughall Massie Road
Arrowe Park Road
The Village
Hoole Road
Gilroy Road
Greasby Road
Greasby Road
Town Meadow Lane
St Albans Road
Mill Lane
Trafalgar Road
King Street
Twickenham Drive
Wallasey Village
Leasowe Road
Hoylake Road
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Brookside Crescent to Brookside Crescent
The Village to Rake Lane
Arrowe Park Road to Church Road
Outside shops
Greenbank Road to Gilroy Road
Well Lane to Macdonald Drive
Highfield Drive to Broadway
Maryland Lane to Mallard Way
Wallasey Road to Mill Lane
Liscard Road to Woodstock Road
Serpentine Road to King Street
Trafalgar Road to Tobin Street
Cameron Road to Cook Road
Grove Road to Perrin Road
Wallasey Village to Railway bridge (both sides)
Reeds Lane to Sandbrook Lane
Rowson Street
Rake Lane
Seabank Road
Brighton Street
Liscard Road
Borough Road
Poulton Road
Claughton Firs
Arrowe Park Road
Fleetcroft Road
Home Farm Road
Pensby Road
Old Chester Road
Old Chester Road
Bebington Road
Bedford Road
Old Chester Road
Bebington Road
Greenway Road
Church Road
Argyle Street South
Borough Road
Borough Road
Hoylake Road
St James Road
Laird Street
Upton Road
Upton Road
Balls Road
Clifton Crescent
Conway Street
Argyle Street
Hamilton Square
Market Street
Duke Street
Laird Street
Europa Boulevard
Derby Road
Clifton Avenue
Mill Park Drive
Eastham Rake
New Chester Road
Eastham Village Road
Allport Road
Church Road
The Wiend
Bromborough Road
The Village
Cross Lane
Heath Road
Bebington Road
Village Road
Teehey Lane
Town Lane
Old Chester Road
Bebington Road
Village Road
Downham Road South
Milner Road
Irby Road
Thingwall Road
Pensby Road (1)
Pensby Road (2)
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Seabank Road to Magazine Lane
Magazine Lane to Sandfield Road
Magazine Lane to Holland Road
Tobin Street to Brougham Road
Parkside to Lumley Road
Brighton Street to Poulton Road
Borough Road to Mill Lane
Christchurch Road to Fairview Road
Pool Lane to Woodchurch Road
Church Lane to Crewe Green
Shop area only
Wimbourne Avenue to Richmond Way
Woodburn Boulevard to Bebington Road
Bebington Road to Farlow Road
Old Chester Road to The Cokers
Grove Road to New Chester Road
Grove Road to Downham Road
Kirkland Avenue to Mount Road
Mount Road to Derby Road
Whetstone Lane to Bebington Road
Outside station
Prenton Road West to Kingsland Road
Balls Road East to Clifton Crescent
Gautby Road to St James Road
Hoylake Road to Hoylake Road
St James Road to Mallaby Street
Noctorum Avenue to Wirral Way
Woodsorrel Road to Alderley Road
Slatey Road to Oxton Road
Borough Road to Argyle Street
Exmouth Street to Argyle Street
Clifton Crescent to Hamilton Square
All
Argyle Street to Hamilton Street
Park Road North to Beckwith Street
Mallaby Street to Park Road North
Price Street to Conway Street
Greenway to Whetstone Lane
Eastham Rake to Mill Park Drive
Eastham Rake to Crossthwaite Avenue
Mill Park Drive to New Chester Road
Eastham Rake to Adaston Avenue
New Chester Road to Church Lane
Slip roads in front of shops
Quarry Avenue to The Village
Church Road to Bromborough Road
Church Road to The Wiend
Church Road to Townfield Lane
Heath Road to Stanton Road
Cross Lane to Norbury Avenue
Boundary Road to Old Chester Road
Mount Road to Teehey Lane
Higher Bebington Road to end of service road
Teehey Lane to Roland Avenue
Oak Road to Bebington Road
Old Chester Road to The Village
School Hill to The Lydiate
Telegraph Road to Milner Road
Downham Road South to Oban Drive
Fishers Lane to service road
Irby Road to Roslin Road
Rosemead Road to Marks Way
Fishers Lane to Ridgewood Drive
d)
The two remaining categories are:Category 3 Link Footway – linking local access footways through urban areas,
i.e. routes through housing estates etc. and
Category 4 Local Access Footway – associated with low usage; i.e. in short
estate roads and cul de sacs.
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4.0
Highway Inspections
4.1
Inspection, Assessment, Recording and Repair
4.1.1 Inspections
The code emphasises the need for an effective regime of inspection, assessment
and recording as the most crucial component of highway maintenance.
The inspection, assessment and recording regime should provide the basic
information for addressing the key objectives of highway maintenance strategy:Network Safety (Safety Inspections)
Network Serviceability (Service Inspections)
Network Sustainability (Structural Condition Survey)
All elements of the inspection and assessment regime should be applied
systematically and consistently, particularly in the case of network safety, where
information may be relevant in respect of legal proceedings.
4.1.2 Highway Safety Inspections
The code states that this type of inspection consists of frequent comprehensive
inspections to identify all defects likely to create danger or inconvenience to users of
the network or the wider community.
The recommended parameters which need to be specified for a safety inspection
regime are:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Frequency of inspection
Items for inspection
Degree of deficiency
Nature of response
This policy outlines the Authority’s current safety inspection regime and expands on
the above parameters.
4.1.3 Carriageway Inspections
As outlined earlier in the network hierarchy section of this document the carriageway
network has been divided into five categories and the inspection frequencies are as
follows.
i)
Strategic Route, a driven inspection is undertaken quarterly.
ii)
Main Distributors, certain sections of these routes are inspected on foot
monthly or quarterly depending on the inspection frequency of the adjacent
footways. In addition, all these particular routes are inspected by vehicle
quarterly.
iii)
Secondary Distributors, certain sections of these routes are inspected on foot
quarterly again depending on the inspection frequency of the adjacent
footways, the remainder being inspected on foot annually. Driven inspections
undertaken quarterly supplement this inspection regime.
iv)
Link Roads, all link roads are inspected on foot annually and driven
inspections quarterly.
v)
Local Access Roads are inspected on foot annually.
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4.1.4 Footway Inspections
As indicated earlier in this document the frequency of safety inspections on footways
is dependant predominantly on pedestrian volume.
However, the majority of footways in the Borough are link or local access footways.
Linking footways are routes which link local access footways through urban areas.
Local access footways are associated with low usage and are normally found on
short estate roads and cul de sacs on housing estates.
These two categories of footway are inspected annually on foot and a full safety and
service inspection is carried out at the same time.
Although pedestrian volume may not be as great as on other footway routes this
category of residential footway is subject to considerable misuse by vehicle
overriding and damage by utility companies.
In certain locations both of the above factors have resulted in an increase of public
liability insurance claims and particular attention is now given to the following items
when safety inspections are undertaken.
a)
Age and condition of footway construction
The majority of public liability insurance claims arise from trips in flagged
footways. Paving flags as a footway surfacing material is a long standing well
established method of construction.
Providing the flagging remains undisturbed it is a relatively maintenance free
surface. However, when it is removed by Utility companies as part of possible
mains renovation work it is not always reinstated to the required standard.
If this footway is subject to vehicle overriding the flags can break and become
uneven and can soon be a tripping hazard for pedestrians. In order to reduce
this potential source of claims the Authority has now introduced within the
structural maintenance programme the phased replacement of flagged
footways with tarmacadam.
The Authority’s regulation and enforcement of Utility company operations is
referred to later in this document.
This type of footway in certain areas of the Borough can also be affected by
tree roots. In areas where isolated tree root damage can lift paving flags
small areas of paving flags are removed and replaced with tarmacadam, and
in some cases depending on arboricultural advice the tree roots are also cut
back at the same time.
In locations where a large number of trees exist it has been and will be
necessary in the future to remove large areas of paving flags and replace with
tarmacadam.
4.2
Assessment
The Authority uses the definition of damage as specified in “The Highway Authorities
Definitions of Damage to Highways and Pavements” in the Hundred Association
Report (H.A.D) as the basis for prioritising work within the Authority.
i)
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The specified definition of actionable damage in carriageways is a sharp
edged depression (pothole) of 40mm or greater in depth and extending in any
one direction for more than 300mm.
The report states that damage is defined as a defect in the carriageway which
impairs the value or usefulness of the carriageway and provides a safety
hazard for road users.
ii)
The specified definition of actionable damage in footways is trips of more than
20mm, rocking paving flags greater than 20mm and a rapid change in footway
profile greater than 25mm and extending in plan dimension less than 600mm.
The report states that damage is defined as a defect in the footway which
impairs the value or usefulness of the footway and provides a safety hazard
for pedestrians.
iii)
4.3
The Authority includes a further criterion of missing iron work as an actionable
defect.
Repairs
During safety inspections all observed defects should be recorded as the degree of
deficiency is important in determining the nature and speed of response.
The Authority has four levels of priority.
Priority 1 – Defined as a hazard that should be corrected or made safe at the time of
the inspection if reasonably practicable.
This category can allow for the making safe or temporary repair within 24 hours if
permanent repair is not possible.
Any permanent repair should be carried out within 28 days.
Examples of such instances are vehicle damage to street furniture, lamp columns,
traffic signals etc. or subsidence within or effecting the highway.
Priority 2 – Defined as a defect to be repaired within a planned programme
depending on the degree of deficiency, traffic levels and site characteristics.
The necessary repairs are to commence within 7 days and be completed within 28
days.
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An example of this type of priority situation is where a defect has been observed
during a safety inspection which a highway inspector considers will become a hazard
as a result of gradual deterioration. The likely location is route well used by highway
users.
Priority 3 – Defined as a repair where the deficiency of the defect requires the works
to be substantially complete within 28 days.
Examples of this type of priority would be a defect of 20mm or above in footways in a
location likely to be used by pedestrians.
Carriageway defects of 40mm or above depending on the location of the defect and
road markings of less than 35% visibility.
4.4
Structural Condition Surveys
4.4.1 U.K.P.M.S Survey Requirements
The United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS) is a management
system which, using visual inspection, provides a comprehensive picture of the
condition of the asset.
The visual inspections are generally carried out to produce Best Value Performance
Indicators (BVPI’s). However, the information provided from these surveys is
primarily used to assist with identifying and prioritising Highway Maintenance
schemes.
There are two types of survey currently used.
Course Visual Inspections (CVI) – The CVI is the more widely used surveying
process as it is a relatively fast, course survey, giving a cost effective method of
assessing the “course” condition of a highway network from a slow moving vehicle.
Detailed Visual Inspections (DVI) – Is a much slower process as it is carried out on
foot, and is used to survey specific sites that require further investigation identified
from previous surveys.
The automated processing of UKPMS provides the key function of translating
recorded highway condition across the network to a prioritised schedule of treatment
lengths with a recommended treatment option and an associated cost for each
length.
4.5
Service Inspections
The code recommends that service inspections in contrast to safety inspections
should be focussed on ensuring that the network meets the needs of users and
deals with specific inspections of particular highway elements within the network.
They may be undertaken separately to safety inspections and less frequently but are
designed to identify deficiencies in the reliability and quality of the network.
Service Inspections on footways are normally carried out in two ways, either as part
of the safety inspection or in response to a highway related enquiry.
Service Inspection should not be used as a defence in public liability insurance
claims but should form part of a programmed maintenance strategy.
The principal objectives of this form of inspection are to:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
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ensure availability
achieve integrity
maintain reliability
enhance quality
By providing information regarding the condition of items such as:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
road markings
pedestrian guardrails
street seats
street nameplates
highway drainage
highway signs
It is possible to incorporate any defective items in a programme of serviceability
maintenance work subject to funding.
Service Inspections can also cover the following operational areas:Highway drainage systems
Embankments and cuttings
Landscaped areas and trees
Carriageways, footways cycleways and network integrity
Fences and barriers
Traffic signs and bollards
Road markings
Traffic signals, pedestrian and cycle crossings
Street lighting
Bridges and structures
Structural condition surveys
4.6
Highway Drainage Systems
The maintenance of the Council’s highway drainage assets is procured through the
Highway Drainage Minor Works and Gully Cleansing Contract.
There are approximately 60,000 gullies in the Borough of differing types and sizes
and approximately 7000 linear metres of drainage channel located within the
adopted highway.
The assets are inspected and cleaned twice a year.
The inspections also identify any defect which presents any risks to health and
safety, these contractual inspections are also supplemented by the Council’s
highway inspection regime.
4.7
Landscaped Areas and Highway Verges
The maintenance of the Council’s highway verges, highway shrubberies and certain
landscaped areas is procured through the Streetscene Service’s Ground
Maintenance Contract.
The contractor is required to maintain approximately 2.2 million square metres of
grass, 47,000 metres of hedging, 88,000 square metres of shrubs, roses and
woodland planting and some 1.3 million square metres of weedspraying.
The frequencies of maintenance for each individual unit is specified in the Contract.
4.8
Trees
The maintenance of the Council’s 16,000 highway trees is procured through the
Streetscene Services Arboriculture Contract.
The contractor is required to provide a 10 year cyclical maintenance programme
based on a initial condition survey of each tree.
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The contractor also provides a 24 hour, 365 days a year emergency call out service
covering severe weather conditions, dangerous trees caused by road traffic
accidents and other similar events.
4.9
Cycleways
The maintenance of the Council’s off road cycleway network is funded from the
Highway Maintenance Structural Maintenance Programme.
The total length of the network is 11.8K.m. and it is proposed to inspect each of the 7
routes 3 times a year, in Spring, mid Summer and late Autumn.
4.10
Traffic Signs
A comprehensive survey of all permanent existing traffic signs is in progress in order
to record the locations of all illuminated and non-illuminated traffic signs in the
Borough.
The survey will identify the type of sign, the condition of the sign, the supporting post
and in the case of illuminated signs the condition of the lantern and associated
brackets.
The results of the survey will be analysed to determine the overall condition of the
traffic sign assets and whether certain signs can be removed to reduce sign clutter.
4.11
Winter Maintenance
In addition to the Council’s statutory duty to maintain highways maintainable at public
expense, section 111 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 imposes a
further duty on the Council to ensure that where reasonably practicable, safe
passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.
The Council’s winter maintenance service involves:i)
ii)
pre-treating the highway to prevent ice forming
post-treating the highway when ice has formed or snow has accumulated.
24 hour monitoring of forecasts ensures current weather conditions are known
throughout the winter maintenance period which normally extends from midNovember to early April.
Pre-treatment is carried out on agreed routes comprising:Principle roads (Class “A” and “B” roads).
Other strategic main roads.
Major bus routes notified by bus operators.
Known problem locations and hazardous gradients.
Post-treatment of the agreed routes will be carried out during and after snowfall.
Footways are only treated once snow has settled or during prolonged freezing
conditions and these will be treated on a priority basis including:i)
ii)
iii)
4.12
town centre shopping areas
schools during term time
other footways where an inspection confirms the necessity for treatment.
Street Lighting
The Council’s street lighting maintenance policy is:i)
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carry out fortnightly inspections of the street lights at night and to attend to
any defective lights within 3 days
ii)
iii)
to provide the facility for the public to report defective lights and for these also
to be attended to within 3 working days
to carry out periodic testing for the purpose of assessing the electrical and
structural integrity of the lighting system.
The Council’s street lighting renewal and improvement policy is:To install new lighting in compliance with BS5489.
To allocate available funding for improved lighting by reference to a list of nominated
locations, prioritised on merit relative to environmental factors and stock condition.
4.13
Operation of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
The Highway Authority has specific duties to ensure that utilities comply with the
requirements of the Act and that the works are carried out in a co-ordinated manner
with all other works and events affecting the highway.
The Authority is also required to maintain a street works database recording all
works notified by utilities and the Authority’s own works.
A gazetteer of all streets and maintenance categories also has to be maintained and
updated quarterly.
In order to ensure compliance with the various Codes of Practice, sample
inspections are carried out by Highway Inspectors in accordance with the Code of
Practice for Inspections.
This requires that 10% of all works are inspected in three categories giving a total of
30% per annum.
Routine and investigatory inspections, (other than sample inspections) are carried
out by Highway Inspectors during their normal inspection duties.
Any defective works are reported to the Street Works Section for action.
Sample inspection fees are charged quarterly in arrears and defect inspection fees
charged monthly in arrears in accordance with the Code of Practice.
4.13.1 Section 74 Charges
The Act empowers the Authority to charge utilities for the unreasonable occupation
of the highway i.e. when works overrun their estimated completion date.
The Authority inspects a number of sites, mainly on priority routes to minimise delays
for highway users.
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