Wednesday, 15 October 2008
The Council is responsible for maintaining the roads (technically known as 'carriageways') and pavements (known as 'footways') of adopted highways. An adopted highway is one where the local authority has taken on the legal responsibility for maintenance.
We inspect every adopted highway on a regular basis. Any area of road or pavement which the inspector identifies as an imminent danger to road users or pedestrians is noted and a repair arranged.
If during this inspection any streets are judged to need more extensive treatment they are listed and their condition is visually assessed at a later date. Each year we draw up an annual structural maintenance programme.
The Council has a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use.
You can either write to:
Scarborough House
25 Chequer Road
Doncaster
DN1 2DB,
telephone 01302 736000 or fill in an online report form.
The spillage of any material on the road represents an immediate hazard to all road users, particularly motorcycle and bicycle riders. A spillage can take many forms. This could include, for example, oil, gravel, sand or dropped cargo spilt on, or blocking, a road. To report a spillage or to report an offender, please contact us immediately on 01302 736000 or email Customer Services
Any hazard in the highway (road or pavement) caused as a result of an accident, damage or vandalism may be considered a risk to the public and could result in personal injury to pedestrians, road users or possible damage to property. The following types of damage are considered to be a risk:
· Gully or drain cover missing.
· Wall exposing a large drop to the rear on either the pavement or road.
· Pedestrian guard railing protruding into the pavement or road.
· Fencing protruding into the pavement or road.
· Concrete bollard knocked over onto the pavement or road.
· Inspection cover missing or damaged.
· Bridge parapets damaged.
· Oil spillages on the road.
· Lamp columns knocked down, wires exposed or lanterns hanging loose.
· Road traffic bollards knocked down or broken.
· Sign poles knocked down or sign plates hanging loose.
· Traffic signals lights not working or traffic light head broken or hanging loose.
You can report damage to the highway by telephoning us, using our 736000 number.
For emergency work we aim to make a hazard safe within two hours. The damage is then assessed by a technician and an order issued for repairs as either reactive work within 4 weeks or planned work depending on the extent and location of the damage.
When a report of a hazard or damage is received the person taking the report will attempt to identify ownership and establish who is responsible for the property or street furniture from the details provided.
If the damage is clearly not the responsibility of the Council, then ownership details can be established and we will contact the respective statutory undertaker or owner who is responsible. A request will be made that they attend and make the hazard safe within a set timescale. If they are unable to meet this timescale then the Council will make the hazard safe and will then recover the costs.
If the responsibility cannot be established and the damage or hazard requires making safe, the Council will carry out the work within 2 hours and attempt to recover the costs from the property owner.
The following are some examples of street furniture and property that is not the responsibility of the Council:
· Inspection covers in the pavement or road for example; stop taps, fire hydrants, manholes and valve boxes.
· Walls built for non-highway purposes.
· Cellar covers.
· British Telecom or Cable cabinets.
This Council, as Highway Authority, has responsibility for the maintenance of the adopted highway, including pavements and footways.
Trip hazards on pavements are a key concern at all times whilst the problems of weeds, standing water and ice tend to be more seasonal. Trip hazards and other defects on pavements are addressed in the following priority order.
Priority One
Those that require prompt attention because they represent an immediate or imminent hazard.
Priority Two
Slab movement, uneven ironwork, and potholes with a trip exceeding 20mm in a pedestrian area.
Priority Three/Four
Major cracking.
Defective trenching with level difference exceeding 10mm.
Significant standing water.
Tarmac disintegration (fretting) with less than 20mm difference in level on urban footways.
Weed contamination of footway surface.
Pavements, particularly those constructed of paving slabs, can suffer very badly from overriding vehicles. In the case of damage, it is important, if possible, to report the vehicle details/findings so that the Council can recover the full cost of repairs to the pavement. When works are being undertaken on the highway (including the pavement/footway), the organisation, which may include utility companies, carrying out those works is responsible for ensuring there is a safe diversionary route for pedestrians and other traffic and a satisfactory reinstatement.
To report any problems, please use the contact details above.
The Council is responsible for ensuring that street name plates are provided and fitted in suitable positions. It is important, as we travel further from our local area, that we can find where we are and where we want to go quickly and efficiently. Most importantly it is vital in the event of an urgent situation that you and your street can be located quickly by the Emergency Services.
The Council is also responsible for repair and maintenance of street name plates when this becomes necessary either due to accidental damage, vandalism or normal wear and tear. In the case of a new development however, the developer is responsible for the erection of name plates to the Council's specification.To report damaged, missing or illegible street name plates please use the contact details above.
