Highways

Highways matters continue to be one of our main priorities. We have appointed a Highways Officer (Gerry Stoker) who monitors all faults in the Parish and produces monthly reports for each meeting.  We continue to use the Cumbria Highways Fault reporting system to log every fault in the Parish and urge residents to add to our reports using any of the following methods:

• Cumbria County Council Highways Department
  ​Report a fault” interactive map

• HIGHWAYS HOTLINE 0300 303 2992
• www.fillthathole.org.uk website

Highways Audit October 2020

Each year we carry out an inspection of all the roads in the Parish and complete an audit of all highways issues to ensure all faults and outstanding issues are logged and that we are doing as much as we can to ensure matters are addressed.  All faults are monitored at each Council meeting and issues updated as necessary. 

​Location	Fault	Date	Reference No	CCCStatus
Wellheads Lane	​​Opposite Overslade (last house in village on right) Deep pothole size of small plate but through two previous surfaces into soft foundations	​9/2020	W2081015020	​ Problem Logged Works completed 11/20
Natland Road parish boundary to Carex Farm	Fault on right hand side of road opposite Carex Farm  ​Fault along boundary with Carex	10/2020	​W2081014984 ​W2081014983	​ Problem Logged ​​ Problem Logged ​Works completed 11/20
Raines Hall - parish Boundary to Railway Bridge	Potholes and previous repairs have failed along a 100m stretch resulting in 15 potholes which are deteriorating quickly - one is very deep and sharp edged.	​10/2020	​W1980984249   W2081014981   Delay reported to CCC 6/11/20 ​Works completed 11/20	​***Future works = One of our experienced teams has been out to take a look and has found that further work is required. The fault has therefore been added to a future works programme to be included for possible funding in line with Cumbria County Council's budget provision
​Railway Bridge to Carex Junction	​Potholes between Castle View and railway Cottages   Collapsed drain in front of Gas substation  Collapsed drain opposite Gas substation	​2019 and CCC ​ 6/11/20	W1980984248 W2081014980 W2081014979 W2081015028 Delay reported to CCC 6/11/20​	​***Future work Problem Logged Problem Logged Problem Logged
Castle View	​Pavements in disrepair	​2019 and CCC ​ 6/11/20	​W1980958222 W2081014982 Delay reported to CCC 16/10/20	"Planned for future works" according to email but "problem logged " on system
Carex Farm Junction	​Request for slow sign to mitigate danger of vehicles on Wharfe Lane	​9/2019​and CCC ​ 6/11/20	W1980977463 Delay reported to CCC 6/11/20	"Planned for future works" according to email but "problem logged " on system  ​
​Pavements Between aqueduct and Sedgwick house on right hand side of road	​Pavements unsafe where tarmac has eroded - puddles collect in dips and are icy in winter causing a slipping hazard	Feb 2019 9/20 ​ and CCC 6/11/20	W1980956164/5 Delay reported to CCC 6/11/20  W2081014982	Planned for future work and being monitored by engineers
Back Lane Junction at aqueduct	​Slow sign requested to mitigate danger of cyclists speeding into Back Lane	9/2019	W1980977462 Delay reported to CCC 6/11/20	"Planned for future works" according to email but "problem logged " on system
Force Bridge to Cooper Hill Bend	Replacement village sign required following accident Previous verge repair failing - needs monitoring  Small potholes appearing in old failing repairs - need monitoring	9/2020	W2081013571	Problem logged
Back Lane	Footpath users  in danger when crossing road by kissing gate - speed limit/signage requested	10/2020 ​11/2020	W2081016228 response queried	Response from CCC - not willing to help
Force Bridge to Levens Park	small potholes - too small to meet repair criteria 11/20	Value	n/a	Monitor and report is they deepen ​
Riverside	Gritting Bin needs replacement	12/11/20	​W2081019453  W2081019505	Problem logged

Other Highways Campaigns 

Update - Pedestrian safety at aqueduct, Wharfe Lane Crossroads and gritting reported to Police Commissioner mcCall 13/11/20 
 

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Highways Archive

April 2018 

Over Easter, Sedgwick Parish Council  received this Public Position Statement about potholes via our County Councillor Brenda Gray. All faults we are aware of in the Parish have been logged using the system they recommend.

From Cumbria Highways - Winter weather and the impact on the Highway
We understand and appreciate the frustration that Cumbrian residents are experiencing. This winter has proven to be a real challenge to Cumbria County Council Highway services. It has been colder and wetter than the previous few years and as a result, there are more road defects and increased pressure on the network. The significant, prolonged wet periods have been closely followed by lengthy spells of cold weather, leading to substantial additional freeze-thaw action and the accelerated deterioration of our roads. This is a situation not unique to Cumbria and many of our neighbouring authorities are having the same challenge.
Repairs done at this time of year when roads are cold and wet are less likely to be as effective as repairs done in warmer, drier conditions. There have been very few periods of warmer, drier weather for us to undertake permanent repairs; therefore often the only option available to us, in order to keep roads safe, is temporary work. We appreciate that this has dismayed some customers who expect more but unfortunately, as explained, permanent solutions are not always effective if road temperatures are low and rather than closing roads, a temporary fix is a more appropriate solution. Our intention is to effect quality permanent repairs as soon as we are out of the winter weather period.
Our teams continue to work hard to manage the increased number of defects but the reality is that we need to prioritise carefully. The Council has had to take nearly £200m out of its revenue budgets in the last 8 years – with further cuts still to be made. We simply do not have the money available to invest in all the proactive maintenance we would like or to divert money from other essential council services into our roads.
We are grateful when our customers identify and report problems and defects to us but as explained, we are not always able to meet their expectations, particularly when the defect does not fall within our priority specifications. Given the extenuating circumstances and our limited resources, we are doing all we can to keep on top of the damage and ensure the highways are safe for all road users.
 I would encourage that defects are reported directly on line athttps://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/highways-pavements/reporting-problem-on-highway/WDM/iframe.asp?cg=CDH or to the Highways Hotline number on 0300 3032992. This ensures the fault is logged and a unique reference code generated for that particular defect, it also enables the fault to be tracked. 

February 2018

After months of campaigning on a number of highways issues, January 2018 saw progress being made on many fronts…..

• Following suggestions from residents about the safety of pedestrians accessing the Village Hall in the dark, we finally met with the highways lighting team and they assessed the situation. Our suggestion of low level solar lighting was ruled out as it would not give out sufficient light but we are extremely pleased that they were able to install a suitable street light so soon after their visit rather than it wait for the new financial year.
• The improvements to pedestrian safety at the aqueduct scheduled for October 2017 were cancelled but we have campaigned for the works to be rescheduled. We have been assured that the works will take place at Easter.
• Following continued problems with HGV vehicles entering the village and getting stuck in or even under the aqueduct, we have pushed for improvements to signage. We are pleased to report that the signage at all junctions in the village will be refreshed with all warning signs being amended or replaced to highlight the warning signs for the low bridge and Aqueduct at the same time.  There will also be a revised sign at Brettargh Holt roundabout to help drivers avoid the low bridges in Sedgwick.
• The work to replace the pavements on Hill Close will be completed in the spring – the work to date has seen a huge improvement and we look forward to similar work being carried out in Castle View.
• The condition of the roads in the parish continues to be our major highways issue. Work has been carried out on a collapsed drain on Cooper Hill, blocked drains at Force Bridge and Riverside, and temporary repairs are in place at Carex Farm and Raines Hall.  We have met with the local Highways Team Leader and the Carex Farm-Crosscrake stretch is under consideration for long term maintenance for the 2018/19 schedule.