Minutes:
Letty Askew, Asset Manager, Highways England
Highways England (HE) is now a government owned company following the Infrastructure Act that came into force in March 2015. It was formally Highways Agency, an executive agency of DfT. HE is the highway authority for the strategic road network within England, and has funding for five years. Its plans are set out in the Roads Investment Strategy and Highways England Delivery Plan 2015-2020.
HE‘s network within Staffordshire is comprised off the M6, A5, A38, A5148, A500 and A50 (part of this road is operated by a consultant, Connect Roads, on behalf of HE). Highways England also has a responsibility to liaise with the M6 toll operator (Midlands Expressway Ltd). However, the Secretary of State remains the highway authority for the M6 toll. The A515 is a local highways authority road and is operated by SCC.
Letty explained that she and her team were responsible for the day to day maintenance of the above ‘A’ roads, identifying short and longer term needs for improvements, responding to consultations and responses to planning applications and local plans and engaging directly with stakeholders, local highways and planning authorities, private developers, district and parish councils and individual customers who use their network.
In response to the concerns raised regarding the A515 (quantity of vehicles using the A515, safety, drivers failing to comply with speed limits and signals, narrow carriageway and overrunning junctions, traffic vibration, noise, and property damage). Other concerns were that the A38 needs to be widened, that HGVs are using Alrewas, rather than Hilliards Cross and that we need more lorry parks and overnight facilities for drivers.
The HE response to these concerns is:
HE has no objection, in principle, to a weight restriction on the A515. However, the A515 is used as an emergency diversion route from the A38 and it was the view of the HE that attempts to divert traffic down a longer route would be unsuccessful. Furthermore, in the event of the need for urgent (i.e. unplanned) repairs on the A38, the HE would need a 24 hour contact with SCC to enable the restriction to be lifted and arrangements for signs to be put in place to say that the restriction has been lifted.
The HE considered that more data was required on how much traffic using the A515 is through traffic.
The HE stated that they could take the following steps to assist.
HE can only influence drivers who use its network, but would agree that the A38 is the most appropriate road for HGV drivers to use.
The have a dedicated project looking at the suitability of diversion routes that is currently bidding for funding. HE is keen to receive feedback from customers and stakeholders. Concerns from both Inquiry Days had been noted and would be fed into the process. HE is looking at ways to reduce the number of closures on the A38. Longer term funding gives the HE the opportunity to look at ways in which the A38 can be improved.
HE has been involved in pre-planning discussions regarding the Brook Hay development.
There is an ongoing study looking at the strategic needs of the A38 from Weeford to the Toyota roundabout. Once the study is completed, any identified needs will be subject to a competitive tendering process. HE will be working with SCC to discuss the findings and how these are taken forward.
HE is also looking at how most priority trunk roads can be brought up to a better standard. This is called the Expressways concept. This work is in its early stages of development.
HE has no responsibility for the provision of service areas and lorry parks.
The HE has limited influence over drivers using the A515 but offered to have discussions with SCC officers about possibilities along this route.
HE responded to the suggestion of a night time ban on the A515 by stating that this would clash with when most roadworks are undertaken on the A38.
In response to questions from Members it was clarified that HE agree diversion routes with local authorities. If a diversion route were put on a road there would be a need for additional signage to indicate the route and to waive the weight restriction. Diversion routes are only operated when there is a total closure of the carriageway (i.e. not a single lane closure).
HE agreed to provide information on the number of closures on the A38 over the last 12 months that required a diversion. In response to Members’ question regarding the capacity of the A38, the HE responded that although it did depend on the time of day and the day of the week, overall the A38 was experiencing high capacity.
Members expressed views that legislative change was needed to address the issue and that MPs should have a copy of the final report. A further view was expressed by Members that qualitative data regarding the impact that HGVs on Staffordshire roads was having on local residents’ lives was as valid as quantitative data.