Bridge Ownership, over or under roads, Condition + Responsibility

Mark Black made this Freedom of Information request to Croydon Borough Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Mark Black

21 January 2010

Dear Croydon Borough Council,

Please provide the following information about road bridges within
LB Croydon

(1) An explanation of the general principle for the determining of
responsibility for maintaining a road bridge over or under a
railway or water course, such as that the railway or water
authority is responsible where the road goes under and the highway
authority where it goes over.

(2) A list of every bridge in the borough where a road passes over
or under a railway (including tramlines), another road, or over a
water course, making clear which, and sorting by type.

In the case of roads over water, simple culverts are not required,
unless they lead to a restriction on traffic allowed to pass.

(3) The owner of the structure, or where that is shared, the
parties involved. Where only one or some is known, give those, and
a brief explanation.

(4) The party or parties responsible for maintaining the bridge in
a safe state and a brief note of any division of responsibility.

(5) The condition of each bridge in simple summary form, ie as good
or how defective, in terms of strength and overall condition.

(6) Any weight limit which applies, and when it was imposed. If it
has changed, then details of the last two changes.

(7) Confirmation of the reason for imposing the most recent weight
limit, and what action is planned to enable it to be relaxed.

(8) A fair but not necessarily precise estimate of the cost of
restoring the bridge to good condition.

(9) A note of any bridge which is defective in terms of width in
relation to the carriageway nearby, and plans to remedy this, with
an indication of estimated cost.

This FOI Request is asking about the situation when it is
processed, and a snapshot should be taken, with the date of this
recorded in the reply.

As most of this information must already be held electronically for
administrative reasons by the council, it should not be onerous to
provide it.

Please provide this electronically, preferably in an XLS
spreadsheet.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Black

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From: Haynes-Ranger, Angela
Croydon Borough Council

26 January 2010

Dear Mr Black,

Thank you for your letter email dated 21 January 2010 in which you have requested, among other matters information regarding an explanation of the general principle for maintaining a road bridge over or under a railway or water course, such as that the railway or water authority is responsible where the road goes under and the highway authority where it goes over.

We are considering your request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and hope to respond within the statutory 20 working days.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, either myself or a colleague will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Angela Haynes-Ranger
Legal Support Officer

London Borough of Croydon
Democratic & Legal Services
Chief Executive's Office
5th Floor,Taberner House
Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS
DX 136017 Croydon 17
Tel:020 8686 4433 ext 61402
Fax:020 8760 5679

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From: Mark Black

18 February 2010

Dear Haynes-Ranger, Angela,

I note that the 20 working day deadline has passed without any
response being provided to my FOI Request.

This is very disappointing.

The Request was a straight forward one, and I see no reason why the
council could not provider its response within the statutory limit
of 20wd.

Please give an indication of a date by when the council expects to
provide its reply - as otherwise a reference to the ICO will become
necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Black

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From: Derby, James
Croydon Borough Council

23 February 2010

Attachment WeightRestrictedBridges205.xls
20K Download View as HTML

Attachment LowBidgeHeightsO02.xls
20K Download View as HTML

Attachment BRIDGE LIST BCI version 2.xls
62K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Black

Thank you for your email dated 21 January 2010 in which you have
requested, among other things an explanation of the general principle for
maintaining a road bridge over or under a railway or water course. We have
considered your request under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act
2000.

Dealing with each item in turn our response is as follows:

1) There is no general principle as such and responsibilities can
change by agreement. Responsibility is as recorded in various agreements,
some which dates back to many years old. However in many cases
responsibility for the bridge rests with whoever had the need to build it.
For example if a railway was built in cutting and severed roads then the
railway company was initially responsible. Responsibilities are shown on
the attached tables.

2) This information is in the public domain but the attached lists may
be helpful.

3) See lists attached.

4) The owner is responsible for maintenance of the structure. The
highway authority is normally responsible for the surface, street lighting
etc and where it is a “road over” bridge the highway authority is
responsible for excess maintenance should they wish to maintain it to a
higher capacity than originally designed.

5) See tables for assessed capacity which is based on design standard
and condition.

6) See lists. We do not have definitive lists of when many limits were
imposed. However Spurgeons, Windmill and Woodplace Lane were imposed about
three years ago. Dates of recent Traffic Management Orders are in the
public domain and available on the Council’s website.

7) Weight limits are normally imposed after a bridge has been
assessed. That assessment takes account of design capability as well as
condition. In many recent cases it is the increase in theoretical vehicle
load coupled with condition that has led to a weight limit. Proposals for
bridge strengthening and replacement are published in the Local
Implementation Plan.

8) We do not hold this information. (The £1.2m shown for Goat House
is just an anticipated spend in that year.)

9) We do not hold this information.

If you are unhappy with the way the department has handled your request
under the Freedom of Information Act you may ask for an internal review.
You can do this by outlining the details of your complaint and either

● emailing us at [1][Croydon Borough Council request email]

● faxing us on 020 8760 5661

● writing FOI Complaints, London Borough of Croydon, Democratic
& Legal Services, Croydon CR9 3JS

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The information Commissioner can be contacted at:

● Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water
Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

James Derby

Corporate Solicitor

Legal & Democratic Services

London Borough of Croydon

Taberner House

Park Lane

CR9 3JS

Tel: 020 8760 5768 Ext. 61359

Fax: 020 8760 5679

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