Winter Service Plan - Responsibilities

1.2 Responsibilities

 

1.2.1 The enabling and service delivery of the Winter Service is the responsibility of the Head of Service - Ayrshire Roads Alliance.

1.2.2 The Ayrshire Roads Alliance is responsible for the work involved in providing the Winter Service. These responsibilities include the following:

  • Developing the Winter Service to cope with an ‘average winter’ but having the capability to be extended or adapted when winters are more severe or of a longer duration than average.
  • Production and distribution of the Winter Service Plan.
  • Review and update of the Severe Weather Operations Plan 
  • Providing accurate and timely information to the East Ayrshire Risk Management Centre and South Ayrshire Monitoring Station. 
  • Carrying out an annual review of the service and updating the Winter Service Plan where necessary.
  • Liaising with adjacent roads authorities in the preparation of the Winter Service Plan to ensure continuity of service across boundaries.
  • Providing a list of roads designated for prioritytreatment.
  • Providing a list of footways and pedestrian areas designated for priority/treatment.
  • Providing a list of roads designated as strategic routes for snowclearing.
  • Providing decision-making charts, advice, and guidance for those involved in the Winter Service.
  • Liaising with the Winter Supervisors to provide help and advice to ensure the service is delivered in the most effective, efficient, and economical way, including establishing operational priorities during extreme weather conditions.
  • Arranging for weather forecasts, ice prediction reports and road and weather monitoring information to be available throughout the winter period.
  • Arranging for appropriate specialist vehicles and equipment to be available throughout the winter period.
  • Arranging for supplies of salt to be available at the start of the overall winter period.
  • Monitoring the salt usage and ensuring supplies are replenished to maintain an appropriate level of salt in the stockpile.
  • Establish contact numbers for access to emergency services control rooms, public transport operators, local media, and the motoring organisations.
  • Passing of factual information on road conditions to eachCouncil’s Communications Team as and when required.
  • Monitoring all aspects of the Winter Service and providing information on performance indicators.
  • Maintaining full and comprehensive records of all Winter Service activities.
  • Directing all available resources.
  • Liaising when necessary with the Road Weather Forecast Provider.
  • Monitoring the weather forecasts and actual weather conditions.
  • Monitoring actual road surface temperatures and road conditions.
  • Assessing the requirement to carry out precautionary or post salting treatment or snow clearance on the network, deciding appropriate start times and rates of spread and arranging for the work to be carried out, monitoring effectiveness of treatments and amending instructions, when necessary, due to a change in conditions
  • Assessing the need to carry out post salting or snow clearance of the remaining road network during prolonged spells of sub-zero temperatures, and ensuring the works are carried out when necessary and as resource spermit.
  • In the event of deteriorating conditions, notably major blockages to the primary route network and/or severe drifting snow to contact:

1) The Emergency Services Control Rooms. (Police, Ambulance, Fire)

2) Ayrshire Civil Contingency Team

3) Communications Team.

4) Chief Executive and/or other nominated Senior Officers.

  • Maintaining a list of contractors with suitable plant and operatives for snow clearing purposes and hiring in such when necessary to do so.
  • Liaising on operational matters when appropriate with the adjacent Local Authorities to ensure continuity of treatment across authority boundaries.
  • Liaising when appropriate with the Emergency Services and Public Transport Operators.
  • Providing accurate and timely information to the Risk Management Centre and South Ayrshire Monitoring Station.
  • Ensuring the Transport workshops are notified of any vehicle faults and that they are repaired without delay.
  • Arranging with Transport workshops for appropriate staff to be available on 24 hour call out to deal with any serious mechanical breakdown(s).
  • Checking and calibrating salt spreading equipment and weighbridges and retaining of the certificates.
  • Ensuring all operatives receive adequate and appropriate training in Winter Service activities and those drivers are issued with ‘route cards’ to record details of the treatment times,etc.

Contact information 

Phone: 01563 503 160

E-mail: enquiries@ayrshireroadsalliance.org

Address:  Ayrshire Roads Alliance, Opera House, 8 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 1DD

 


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