BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 07 JULY 2005
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
ON SEACOMBE ROAD PETITION
1.Purpose of Report and Policy Context
1.1To respond to a petition requesting that Seacombe Road be included in the current year’s structural maintenance programme.
2.Recommendation
2.1It is recommended that:
(a)the petitioners be thanked for their efforts in bringing this matter to the attention of the Group;
but
(b)because there is already an established procedure in place prioritising roads for inclusion based on assessed condition of the road, Seacombe Road is not included in the current programme.
3.Background
3.1The following petition has been received with 22 signatures from residents of 14 (of 26) properties in Seacombe Road and 1 resident immediately adjacent in Brownsea Road.The petition was received with an accompanying letter dated May 2005 signed on behalf of the Seacombe Road Residents which states:
“We the residents of Seacombe Road would like the council to reconsider its assessment of the condition of our road which you state makes it a non-priority.
In a letter from Alan Twaits, Head of Highways and Transportation Services in 1993 he states that Seacombe Road together with Grasmere and Salter Road were being submitted for inclusion in the 1994 programme. 12 years on we are informed that the criteria has changed.
We would respectfully ask you to look at the condition of our road as Grasmere Road was done several years ago and Brownsea and Salter Road are currently being worked on.”
A plan showing these roads on the Sandbanks peninsular is shown as Appendix A
3.2This Group has received similar communications in the past from residents who
are concerned over the condition of their road and request that it be considered
for reconstruction.
3.3In every instance Members have been reminded that there is an approved method for assessment, last reported to this Group on 26 October 2003.
The main features of the current process are:
(a)Funding of major resurfacing and reconstruction schemes primarily comes from the Government through the Local Transport Plan.
(b)On providing this money there is the expectation from the Government that there will be identifiable improvements, measured in respect of residential roads by a nationally recognised survey method – known as Coarse Visual Inspections (CVIs).
(c)It makes sense therefore that the method of assessment in order to prioritise schemes to be included in any annual programme is based on these CVI surveys.
(d)The continued level of investment from the Government is dependent on improving these results. Directing funds in any other way runs the risk of jeopardising future funding levels.
3.4The demands on the Council’s maintenance resources are considerable and it is imperative it is spent in the most cost effective way. While the requests from residents to simply extend the existing works from nearby Salter Road are understandable, there has to be the discipline of confining schemes to individual roads.
3.5Any perceived cost benefits of continued working are negligible, and indeed, the advance planning which is needed before any works can be undertaken, statutory undertaker notification, resident information, road closure orders etc., mean that such flexibility is unfortunately not possible.
3.6Seacombe Road will be surveyed and considered alongside all other roads in the Borough later in the year for compilation of the 2006/07 programme. At this stage it cannot be ascertained whether this will be sufficiently high on the priority list to be included in the programme or not.
JAMES T BRIGHT
Head of Transportation Services
Appendix A – Sandbanks Peninsular
Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact:
Steve Tite (01202) 262020
TAG070705T3J – PLEASE NOTE: PLANS AND APPENDICES TO THIS REPORT ARE NOT AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY
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