XX April 2021

For immediate release

Photo story: Frontline teams helping to manage the city’s highways, streetlights and walls

City of York Council’s frontline teams help to maintain around 1,000 miles of adopted highway, 43,000 gullies, 23,000 street lights and traffic signals and around three miles of the city’s historic walls.

The recently published Annual Maintenance Report for 2021/22 report details the planned work they will be undertaking over the next year to maintain these assets to provide a safe, reliable infrastructure for all travel users and support the economic recovery of the whole city.

The report includes the allocated £20million highways maintenance programme for 2021/22. With £5million funding to help fix potholes and general highways maintenance across the city, around £1.2m will also be spent towards making improvements to ageing and outdated traffic signals, as part of the Traffic Signal Asset Renewal Programme. Over £3 million will be invested in Germany Beck Flood Alleviation which will reduce the impact of flooding to properties in the Fordland’s Road community in Fulford.

Our front line teams not only deliver the planned maintenance but also the reactive responses. The last year has been challenging with new ways of working due to the Covid pandemic as well as flooding incidents. Flooding regularly results in visible defects like potholes, damaged road signs, defective street lights and in extreme cases, damage to bridges.

The report can viewed here and details the programmes of proactive maintenance. [ Link to report HERE once Niel Ferris has approved through officer decision ]

Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Climate Change and the Environment, at City of York Council, said:

“The impact of climate change is evident in our city with worsening winters and more frequent flooding. It is our role as a local authority to be ahead of the curve and proactively address these challenges in our city, with the support and hard work of our brilliant frontline teams.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and flooding incidents over the last year, our crews worked hard to ensure that services across the city such as gritting and pothole repairs continued. I would like to put on record the City’s thanks.”

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Transport, at City of York Council, said:

“We understand the integral part our transport network has to play in building a city where sustainable travel is safe and convenient, and where businesses can benefit from great connectivity and environment. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this next wave of important investment.

“Our programmes for 2021/22 will ensure road conditions are maintained and improved to support local residents and businesses. As we move out of national restrictions, we will be investing over £20 million highways budget, which was approved at the Budget Council.”

Where possible existing schemes will complement agreed ward schemes, to be used on locally important issues. If issues arise these will need to be considered by Executive Member for Transport.

The council takes the safety of all road users seriously and in order to ensure public safety is maintained all repairs are prioritised according to the level of defect.

Every step necessary is taken to ensure problem areas are identified and repairs are carried out as quickly as possible so minimal delays occur. All road repairs that require immediate attention are carried out within 24-hours and areas which are deemed less immediate are added to a rota and repaired within either three days, two weeks or four weeks.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Executive members and their portfolios:

· Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Transport – Cllr Andy D’Agorne on 07941392667

· Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change – Cllr Paula Widdowson on 01904 551934

For further information please contact:

Debbie Manson

City of York Council

T: 01904 555764

M: 07917 052 479

Newsdesk / Out of hours: 01904 555515

Email: debbie.manson@york.gov.uk

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