Winter 2011/2012 Preparations

Surrey Highways are now publishing a weekly bulletin of road maintenance in the area. This includes Ashtead but also surrounding villages and towns.

Highways have advised that it may be worth noting that they do try and put the most up to date information in the document at the time of issue, however things are subject to change for all sorts of reasons, including emergencies, breakdowns (plant and equipment etc) and last but not least, the weather!

It is not always possible to include every small piece of work that they do as this is often of a reactive nature and those works tend to be planned on a more day to day or even hourly basis for emergencies and Highway safety considerations which are beyond the scope of this bulletin.  

The highways bulletins are now available on this link
 

Road defects, potholes, broken kerbs, street light problems etc should be reported to Surrey Highways either by telephoning the Helpline 0300 200 1003 or by logging on to the Surrey County Council web site www.surreycc.gov.uk. 

You can now let Highways know direct from your iPhone. On the iPhone itself you are probably aware that you can load 'applications' or 'Apps' to your phone. You simply go to the App Store and type in 'Street Report' and it will list the App and you just click to accept this to be downloaded on your phone. It is free of charge and really as simple as that to obtain. 

Once you have the app on your phone you can report a problem as follows:  

• Click on the App icon to open it up.
• It presents various categories of problems for you to pick from, eg.roads & Pavements, lighting, street cleaning.
• It may ask for another detail, eg. loose paving stone, trip hazard etc - again just choose a description.
• Then it takes you to a mini form. Here you can add a photograph, enter a brief description and set the location. You can save the report or send it then and there. iPhones have cameras so taking a photo just takes a second.
• The report will go directly to the appropriate authority and department. You do not need to insert this - it does it for you.
• Street Report will send you an email at home and you just need to click to confirm the details are correct - then it goes for good.

You should then receive an email from Mole Valley saying that they will deal with the problem.  

If you do not have an iphone but you have a computer, then you can go to:  

http://www.fixmystreet.com/ 

If you have queries with regard to roads in Ashtead, you may email the Associations' Highways Officer, David Baker who will liaise with Surrey Highways as necessary. David's address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Similarly any queries with regard to Transport (Trains and Buses) please contact the Association's Transport Officers, Ron Eaton or Geoff Ball. Their Email address is the same This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  

Preparations for Winter 2011/2012

Thanks to Cllr. Chris Townsend the road from Craddocks Parade to the Station is now on the Primary Salting Route.

Surrey Highways have also advised us as follows:-

I am pleased to tell you that the hard work of May Gurney and the Highways Team mean that this year's county-wide winter maintenance programme can be delivered for £700,000 less than last year, with no degradation to levels of service. The Cabinet has decided that the additional £700,000 provides an opportunity to further enhance the services we can deliver to our residents this winter.

Before the season starts you will be issued with detailed packs (pdf), which will include gritting routes for your areas. The pack will explain the different levels of service that will be provided in the P1, P2 and P3 networks. It will also set out local arrangements made with district and borough councils and farmers. Identified benefits include:

- Extending the Surrey P1 precautionary salting network by 172 kms (107 miles), helping to reach some of our more isolated communities.

- Further increasing our salt stocks, helping us cope with even the toughest winter

- Providing 40 tonnes of salt to our district and borough colleagues, helping to keep some key pavements and town centres clear.

- Establishing a new grit bin supply, enabling residents and local community groups to buy a grit bin for four years at a cost of just £1,000.

- Further increasing our pool of farmers up to 50 willing to help out in the toughest of weather conditions.

- Increasing our salt stocks to 16,000 tonnes, increased from 10,000 tonnes two years ago.

- Providing one fill by end of October of our 1,743 grit bins, and should circumstances prevail we will carry out a second fill but due to availability of resources we are not able to refill during a snow event.

I would like to make it very clear that I welcome your comments and suggested adjustments for improvement locally that can be addressed in the future.

Cabinet agreed that the proposed rationalisation of grit bins raised concerns. It has therefore been agreed that bins scoring less than 100 points will remain in situ, until they come to the end of their serviceable life and then will be removed. The local member will be informed at this point and they, or their community may choose to fund a replacement.

I would also like to stress the importance of the personal responsibility of Surrey's residents, businesses and other organisations. People have been worried about being held liable for claims against them, but this is highly unlikely unless they deliberately do something that makes the situation worse! As requested by residents last winter, the council is providing a clear legal statement:

"As with all actions taken by members of the public, people should act sensibly and consider the effect their actions might have on other highway users. Provided any salting or snow clearance is carried out responsibly and without creating further hazards which could lead to a passer-by injuring themselves, then there would be no liability for such actions."

So, residents and organisations need to prepare themselves and their communities for severe weather. This could include, for example:

Clearing snow from the front of their own buildings using a wide bladed

shovel, but not hot water as this will cause black ice;

Ensuring elderly relatives and neighbours are safe;

Travelling with warm blankets, a shovel and even warm drinks;

Considering buying snow tyres or chains.

We will again be running an extensive communications campaign starting in the autumn and continuing through the winter season. We will give advice and suggestions as to how people can also prepare for winter themselves.

Details of this will be included within the packs.

I would be grateful if all councillors could familiarise themselves with the proposed gritting routes and help their residents prepare for bad weather. I attach a pdf map of the gritting routes for your area, the information will also be published on the web.

I urge county councillors to share this information with their residents, district, borough and parish colleagues.

Finally, I would like to thank Councillor Steve Renshaw and his task group, officers and May Gurney for their excellent work.