OFFICER DECISION

 

 

Decision:   City Wall closure for Piling Works

Decision Date:  17/05/2024

Type of Decision: Director                                      Key

 x

    Non-Key

 

Portfolio Area that decision relates to:

Leader (incl. Corporate Services, Policy, Strategy & Partnerships)

 

Environment and Climate Emergency

 

Economy & Transport

 

 x

Finance, Performance, Major Projects & Equalities

 

Children, Young People and Education

 

Children, Young People & Education

 

Health, Wellbeing and Adults Social Care

 

Housing, Planning & Safer Communities

 

Background / Decision Summary:

 

Permanent closure of the City Walls between Station Rise and Micklegate Bar for a 6-week period whilst the Sisk (the contractor) carry out piling works to the Queen Street bridge.

 

Options Considered:

 

Permanent closure of the bridge versus closure whilst works are ongoing only:

 

Permanent closure due to the curious nature of the public.  The piling rig mast is 20m high and will tower over the wall by around 10m.  At its closest the rig will be around 3m in the horizontal from the wall.  Piling works are inherently messy and our concern lies with the fact that members of the public will be too close standing near the work zone.

 

The contractor has stated that they are happy to reopen the wall outside of working hours (07h30 – 18h00, Monday-Friday) however there are a couple of situations below as to why this may be unrealistic:

 

·        On very rare occasions, hydraulic hoses can spring a leak on the rigs.  In most cases there are exclusion zones around the rig and so operatives are not affected, the worry is that if a hose burst on the rig that this could quite easily affect members of the public.

 

·        As the auger retracts from drilling works, the debris will often stick to the auger.  To combat this an attendant excavator is used to clean as much debris as possible from a safe distance.  On site there is an exclusion zone to ensure falling debris does not cause injury.

 

The rig remains in place for the duration of the 6-week period.  Our work will attract

 

a lot of interest and there is no better viewing point than from the top of the wall.  We would like to request permanent closure as there are numerous members of the public constantly leaning over the wall to a dangerous level to get a better view.  If the walls reopen outside of working hours, we will not be able to manage the increased risk of someone taking a tumble over the wall or being affected by the piling works and/or rig risks stated especially when the site is unattended.

 

We will make sure that if closure is accepted that diversion signs as well as wall closure posters have been created and put in place for this duration.

 

Options Rejected:

Rejected the proposed closure whilst works are ongoing only.

 

Consultation Process:

All relevant Members and officers.

Implications

Crime & Disorder

 

 x

Equalities

 

Highways

 

Human Resources

 

 

Legal

 x

ICT

 

Financial

 

 

Affordability

 

Property

 

Climate Change

 

 

Health

 x

Other

  x

Environment

 

 

Human Rights

 

 

 

Implications Contact:  Health and Safety

Level of Risk:  Regular monitoring

 

Wards Affected:


All Wards

x

Fishergate

 

Holgate

 

Rural West York

 

Acomb

 

Fulford & Heslington

 

Hull Road

 

Strensall

 

Bishopthorpe

 

Guildhall

 

Huntington & New Earswick

 

Westfield

 

Clifton

 

Haxby & Wigginton

 

Micklegate

 

Wheldrake

 

Copmanthorpe

 

Heworth

 

Osbaldwick & Derwent

 

 

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe

 

Heworth Without

 

Rawcliffe & Clifton

 

 

Comments/Observations:

Decision:  Agreed permanent closure of the City Walls between Station Rise and Micklegate Bar for a 6-week period whilst the Sisk (the contractor) carry out piling works to the Queen Street bridge.

 

Decision Made by:  James Gilchrist, Director of Transport, Environment and Planning in consultation with Executive Member for Transport and Economy.

Contact Details: t: 01904 552547 m: 07771 838513 e:  

james.gilchrist@york.gov.uk  

On behalf of:  Neil Ferris, Corporate Director of Place

 

To be implemented by: Pamela Simmonds, Major Transport Project Manager

On Completion – Signed off by:

 

 James Gilchrist

 Director of Transport, Environment and Planning

 

Date: 17.05.24