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Bridge strengthening (554) Service
Work carried out under the strengthening programme gives priority to principal road bridges. For substandard bridges on the non-principal road network, decisions are made whether to permanently weight restrict rather than strengthen.
Dropped kerbs (477) Service
The council may construct vehicle crossovers at the request of residents. Provision of crossovers may also include access protection markings which are white 'H' shaped lines painted on a road, in front of accesses to highlight dropped kerbs to other road users. There may be a charge payable for this service and in some locations, such as on major highways, planning permission may be required.
Pavement maintenance (537) Service
The local authority has responsibility for the maintenance of pavements within the area. They should provide advice on reporting dangerous pavements and what to do in the event of an accident resulting from trip hazards (holes, uneven paving slabs etc.) on the pavement.
Pavement obstructions (536) Service
Streetworks, roadworks, skips, scaffolds, hoardings, advertising boards and building materials that block the pavement are all considered to be causing an obstruction to pedestrians. The council is responsible for ensuring that such obstructions are removed.
Personal injury and damage claims (558) Service
Dealing with reports of personal injury and/or damage to property caused by faults or hazards on roads and pavements which it is the responsibility of the local authority to maintain.
Prospectively maintainable highways (1706) Service
A local authority may designate a private road as a prospectively maintainable highway which means that the council may adopt the road such that it is maintained at public expense. The authority maintains a register of prospectively maintainable highways.
Road adoption (701) Service
New roads that have been constructed in accordance with the council's guidelines are normally adopted by way of an agreement between the developer and the council. Local authorities are obliged to publish a register of road adoptions and road works, which is available for public inspection.
Road bridges (553) Service
The local authority is responsible for any highway bridges it owns. These bridges should be inspected regularly and a programme of maintenance work drawn up to ensure their safety.
Road closures and diversions (570) Service
A traffic regulation order issued by the local authority where works on the highway, or some large deliveries, require a road to be closed temporarily to general traffic.
Road construction (1762) Service
Where the local authority is the highway authority for an area they can construct new roads where this is required as part of a road improvement scheme or to support new developments The council will typically have a road construction strategy and publish standards with which any new road needs to comply.
Road maintenance (557) Service
Maintenance and repair of potholes where the surface of the road has been eroded posing a risk to road users.
Road obstructions (550) Service
Highways must be kept clear of obstructions for safety reasons. The local authority has the power to serve notice on a person who commits an offence of wilful obstruction on the highway. In certain circumstances the courts allow the highway authority to remove obstructions and recover reasonable costs incurred in doing so from the offender.
Road signs (540) Service
The local authority has responsibility for installing signs to regulate traffic and to provide warnings to drivers of hazards ahead. The signs that may be used on the public highway are controlled by government regulations, covering the designs of the signs, where they can be used and whether they must be illuminated.
Road spillages (591) Service
The local authority is responsible for keeping the highway clean and free from spillages. Where spillages are of a hazardous nature the local police and fire service may also be involved in the incident and road closures may be required.
Road surveys (549) Service
The council is responsible for carrying out repairs and for administering highway legislation. This includes planned and emergency maintenance, surveys and street works
Road works notification (569) Service
Notification of road closures, diversions and possible traffic disruption as a result of road works that are underway or programmed to take place within the area. Local authorities are obliged to publish a register of road adoptions and road works, which is available for public inspection.
Roads enforcement (551) Service
The Council has a duty to protect the public rights on the road and footpath network. The effectiveness of legislation in protecting the public is dependent on the compliance of others. The local highways authority has a duty to maintain adopted highways to safe and serviceable standards
Roads weight limits (552) Service
The local authority can impose weight restrictions on public roads for structural or for environmental reasons. Such restrictions prevent large vehicles from using inappropriate roads, routes and areas. It is the responsibility of the local authority to monitor and deal with abuse of any imposed weight restrictions.
Stopping up orders (1136) Service
Roads may be closed permanently either because they are not necessary, a better route will replace it or to allow a new development with planning permission to be built.
Street lighting (564) Service
The local authority is responsible for maintenance and repairs of street lights, and lighting faults including illuminated bollards, signs and beacons.
Street name plates (541) Service
The local authority is responsible for the naming of streets within their local area and for ensuring that street name plates are provided and fitted in suitable positions.
Street names and numbering (513) Service
Legislation empowers the council to allocate statutory addresses. The council may, in relation to any street or road to which the public have access: (a) give such name to it as they think fit; (b) after advertising in a newspaper circulating in their area any proposal to alter its name and taking into account any representations thereupon made to them within 28 days after the date of the first publication of the advertisement, alter any such name; (c) affix, paint or mark its name on any premises, fence, lamp post, pole or other structure in it so as to be readily legible to members of the public there, and erect poles or other structures there for that purpose; (d) give each of the premises in it such distinguishing number as they think fit; alter that number when necessary; and require the owner of each of the premises, by notice served on him, to affix or paint that number on his premises so that it is readily legible from the nearest part of the public place giving access to the premises. Once statutory addresses have been allocated, postal services are notified for allocation of postcodes and emergency and other services are notified.
Termination of highway rights (1713) Service
Where areas of public highway are considered by the Highway Authority to be surplus to highway requirements, the public rights of way and the highway rights can be extinguished (cancelled) by an order made by the Magistrates Court.
Traffic lights (567) Service
Placement and maintenance of traffic lights to improve traffic safety and help reduce road accidents and hazards.
Transport timetable information (908) Service
Publication of timetables for local transport including trains, buses, metro/underground, tram and any other forms of public transport
Verge maintenance (574) Service
The majority of grass verges adjacent to roads are within the public highway. The local authority is required to keep these safe and unobstructed.
Verges permitted use (1362) Service
Any organisation or individual wishing to make use of the verge for the temporary seating or shelter for an event or other similar uses must obtain permission from the local authority to do so.
Wall maintenance (563) Service
Maintenance and repair of walls or fences in a state of disrepair where there is a risk to public safety. This will include highway retaining walls and walls providing a safety barrier.
Yellow lines (538) Service
The local authority authorise yellow line road marking where there is a need to restrict parking to help increase traffic flow and to prevent obstructions on the highway.