Economic Development

	Sustainable Regeneration Directorate
	Business Development & Partnerships Division
	Salford City Council
	Civic Centre
	Chorley Road Swinton Salford M27 5BY

James Campbell 18411-a4617b94 @whatdotheyknow.com	Phone Fax Email Web My Ref Your Ref	0161 793 2878 0161 793 2477 [email address] www.salford.gov.uk FOI/LBF/Campbell
24^th September 2009

Subject: Freedom of Information Request Response

Thank you for your request for information, which was received on 22 September 2009. Our partners Urban Vision Partnership Ltd have provided the information for your response. Your request has been processed under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Our response is as follows: - I would like to know what your time scale is for inspecting highways under your borough (i.e. checking for potholes/manholes/cracks etc). I am lead to believe that all Councils should have a time scale in which they periodically review the conditions of their roads, and would like clarification on your time scales, along with a time scale for fixing any defects found? There is an approved document "Highway Maintenance - Operational Policies and Standards for Highway and Street Lighting Maintenance" which outlines the frequency of inspection of the adopted highway network, together with prescribed response times. I have extracted the appropriate sections as below. Inspection Frequencies Suggested inspection frequencies are outlined within the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management - Well Maintained Highways (July 2005) and can either be walked or driven. Since it is considered impractical to carry out driven inspections within an urban environment all inspections within Salford are carried out on foot. Although this inspection method is considered to be more rigorous it is acknowledged that a walked inspection is more time consuming. Inspection frequencies on the classified road network have been amended accordingly. Carriageways Highway Groups Code of Practice Hierarchy Safety Inspection Frequency (per annum) Classified - Principal Roads Category 2 Strategic Routes 4 Category 3a Main Distributors 4 Classified- Non-Principal Roads Category 3b Secondary Distributors 4 Unclassified Roads Category 4a Link Roads 2 Category 4b Local Access Roads 2 Footways Highway Groups Code of Practice Hierarchy Safety Inspection Frequency (per annum) Classified - Principal Roads Category 1(a) Prestige Walking Zones 12 Category 1 Primary Walking Routes 4 Category 2 Secondary Walking Routes 4 Classified- Non-Principal Roads Category 1(a) Prestige Walking Zones 12 Category 1 Primary Walking Routes 4 Category 2 Secondary Walking Routes 4 Unclassified Roads Category 1(a) Prestige Walking Zones 12 Category 1 Primary Walking Routes 4 Category 2 Secondary Walking Routes 4 Category 3 Link Footways 2 Category 4 Local Access Footways 2 Footways identified as high risk (outside hospitals, schools, pedestrianised shopping areas and other high risk areas) will be inspected 12 times per annum. A schedule is attached below. Cycle Tracks Highway Groups CoP Hierarchy Safety Inspection Frequency (per annum) Classified - Principal Roads Category A - Carriageway 4 Category B - Footway 4 Classified- Non-Principal Roads Category A - Carriageway 4 Category B - Footway 4 Unclassified Roads Category A - Carriageway 2 Category B - Footway 2 Category C - Off Highway 0 Response Times The Highway Inspector uses his or her judgment to identify and categories all defects noted during a safety inspection. Visual observation combined with the application of measurable intervention criteria are utilized to identify and categorise highway defects. Category Response Time 1 Within 2 hours 2 Within 24 hours 3 Within 28 days Intervention Limits Criteria relating to the nature and severity of the defect, the location of the defect within the footway or carriageway and the type of highway and its usage are all considered by the Highway Inspector to determine an appropriate course of action. Carriageway Defect Type Response Time Category Potholes at designated pedestrian crossing points in excess of 25mm deep 2 Potholes in excess of 50mm deep 3 Ironwork with exposed vertical faces in excess of 50mm 3 Ironwork with gaps in excess of 50mm 3 Cracked or broken ironwork in danger of collapse 1 Missing ironwork 1 Rocking ironwork with a vertical movement exceeding 20mm 3 Defective highway drainage which results in standing water, over 50mm deep, restricting the carriageway width to less than two thirds of its total width. 3 Missing, damaged or defective crash barrier or parapet fencing that could pose a danger to the highway user 2 Footways and Cycle Tracks Defect Type Response Time Category Potholes in excess of 25mm deep 3 Rocking flags with a vertical movement exceeding 25mm 3 Kerb ridges, projections and gaps greater than 25mm 3 Missing, damaged or defective pedestrian guard rails that could pose a danger to the highway user 2 Ironwork with exposed vertical faces in excess of 25mm 3 Ironwork with gaps in excess of 25mm 3 Cracked or broken ironwork in danger of collapse 1 Missing ironwork 1 Rocking ironwork with a vertical movement exceeding 25mm 3 Standing water in excess of 25mm deep that restricts the footway width to less than 1000mm 3 Illegal obstruction reducing the footway width to less than 1000mm 3 It should be noted that compliance with the specified targets is subject to adequate levels of funding being made available and this can vary on a year-by-year basis. Should you disagree with the above, or if you wish to make a formal appeal against this decision, please contact Rob Pickering, Assistant Director of Economic Futures at the above address or telephone on 0161 793 2818. Guidance on how to make a formal appeal against a decision under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is also available on our web site at www.salford.gov.uk Should you further disagree with the decision following the appeal, you may wish to contact the Office of the Information Commissioner. Office of the Information Commissioner Wycliffe House Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk Tel: 01625 545700 Fax: 01625 524510



Yours sincerely

Lynn Faulkner Principal Information Governance Officer