Agenda item

The Service Manager for Highways and Parking has provided a written statement which is attached to the agenda.

The Service Manager for Highways and Parking (Kelvin Packer) introduced this item and thanked those stakeholders who had responded to the review. He stated that three main issues were raised by parishes: more grit bins, additional salting routes and advice about the legal position with regard to self-help and snow clearance. He reported that some new grit bins had been approved and that an additional 7 miles of salting routes had been introduced. The Council now routinely salts 38% of the network. A leaflet had been produced giving guidance on self-help to support parishes and residents when dealing with severe weather.  The policy for winter maintenance would be presented to the Safer and Stronger Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel on March 24^th.

The Cabinet Member for Service Delivery (Charles Gerrish) thanked the officer for his work and that of his team and congratulated them for producing a balanced report which had been based on clear criteria.

A representative from Combe Hay thanked the officer for the report and leaflets and asked whether, if there was a further cold snap this spring, the arrangements for bagged salt would be brought forward from next winter. The officer replied that they were planning to develop the bagged salt service over the summer months, but that if there was a further cold spell, a judgement would be taken depending on the severity of the weather.

A representative from Stanton Drew said that their parish had requested a grit bin as it was almost impossible to get out of the village during the cold spell. The officer replied that the situation would be looked at again, but any adjustment to the criteria would require the Council to provide bins at many other sites. The officer stressed the difficulties involved in refilling bins during snowfall conditions. The crews who drive the gritters are normally employed on road works/highways maintenance during the daytime and are also subject to drivers’ working hour restrictions. In the period of snowfall before Christmas, the operatives were asked to refill more than 500 bins.

A representative from Dunkerton praised the work of the highways team during the winter in keeping the main routes open. He welcomed the bagged salt distribution during the summer, which would mean that parishes would be well prepared for the onset of winter. He asked which routes would be affected if the supplies ran out and was informed that the Highways Department would publish the priority routes on the website. The representative welcomed the use of local farmers and asked how their parish could implement that idea. Their parish was also looking at buying a mini-gritter which would fit on the back of a Land Rover and was seeking help with funding from the Council. The officer informed the meeting that the Council had developed a network of farmers who used their tractors in bad weather to reach the places impassable to a gritter. The officer asked that if any parish/town council knew of farmers who wanted to participate in the service, could they please contact the Highways Department. With regard to the parish’s plan to buy their own gritter, he said that the service could not commit the funds at present but would be willing to listen to any suggestions that could improve the service.

A representative from Batheaston asked whether the Council would consider supplying a pile of salt for the village handyman to keep the pavements clear. The officer replied that this practice could cause problems as the salt might solidify in a heap and become a hazard to cyclists or people with a visual impairment and also could block drains. The Cabinet Member for Resources (Malcolm Hanney) added that the Council was unfortunately already under pressure to cover more services.

A representative from Bathampton asked where the bagged salt would be delivered and what would be done to prevent it being stolen. The officer replied that they needed to organise the distribution carefully at times when there was lower pressure on the service. They also needed to identify proper storage places to ensure the salt was available for highway purposes.

A representative of Keynsham Town Council asked why the pavements around the sheltered housing developments in the town were not cleared of snow and ice and was informed that many of the pavements were owned by the housing associations which were therefore responsible for clearing them. The officer added that salt from bins can be used to treat footways. The Council salts and clears snow from a number of strategically important footways across the district.