Winter Service Operational Plan
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SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL WINTER SERVICE 2008 / 2009 PLAN CONTROLLED COPY COPY NUMBER HOLDER Originator – Gordon Hill – Roads Maintenance Manager Approved by Ian Woodburn – Head of Neighbourhood Services Document WINTER SERVICE Rev 6 Plan Page 1 of 29 Issue Date Oct 08 SOUTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL ROADS MAINTENANCE SERVICE WINTER SERVICE 2008 / 2009 OPERATIONAL PLAN CONTENTS PAGE NO 1. Introduction 3 2. Statutory Duty 3 3. Objective 3 4. Operational Arrangements 3 5. Weather Forecasting 4 6. Treatment Routes 5 7. Salt Bins 5 8. Labour Resources 5 9. Vehicle and Plant Resources 6 10. Salt and Fuel 6 11. Decision Making 8 12. Responsibilities 10 13. Training 10 14. Health and Safety 11 15. Operational Communications 11 16. External Communications 11 17. Arrangements at Boundaries 12 18. Information recording and analysis 13 19. Review 14 20. Arrangements for performance monitoring, audit, and updating 14 Appendix 1 Four Areas of Forecasts, Sensor Sites and Depot Locations Appendix 2 Salting Routes Appendix 3 Other Local Authority and Contractor Resources Appendix 4 Grit Bins Appendix 5 RMS personnel available for Winter Service Appendix 6 Specialist Winter Service Plant Appendix 7 Non-Specialist Plant Appendix 8 Winter Contact Arrangements (SEPARATE DOCUMENT) Appendix 9 Records Appendix 10 Footway Gritting Routes Document WINTER SERVICE Rev 6 Plan Page 2 of 29 Issue Date Oct 08 (1) Introduction The winter service for roads within South Ayrshire is carried out in accordance with the policies outlined in the South Ayrshire Council Winter Service Policy. This sets out the objectives to be accorded to roads and footways, with the exception of the trunk roads which are the responsibility of Transport Scotland. The Winter Service (WS) will be operated in accordance with both the Winter Service Operational Plan, which is produced on the basis of treating an average winter’s conditions, but also capable of being adapted or extended to react to severe weather conditions, and the Winter Service Procedure RMS001. (2) Statutory Duty The WS forms an integral part of the roads maintenance function and by virtue of the Roads (Scotland) Act, 1984 (Section 34), South Ayrshire Council has a statutory duty to “take such steps as it considers reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads”. (3) Objective South Ayrshire Council’s objectives in relation to the WS are; The reduction, as far as reasonably practicable, of the effects of adverse weather whilst maintaining the availability and reliability of the roads network. To provide travelling conditions as safe as reasonably practicable having regard to financial constraints, resources available and prevailing weather conditions. To minimise delays, accidents and damage resulting from ice and snow. To undertake the winter maintenance service effectively and efficiently. In order to achieve this objective it is recognised that a priority treatment programme is required. The WS essentially comprises of the following three main components: - Pre – treatment – “precautionary salting” Post – treatment – “salting following the formation of ice” Clearance of snow (4) Operational Arrangements The WS will be carried out by DSR, Roads Maintenance Services (RMS). The WS is funded from the revenue Budget. Throughout the operational winter service period there are trained drivers available for each operational vehicle and other items of plant. All drivers have a basic knowledge of every salting route emanating from their operational depot and are capable of undertaking any route if necessary. Outside normal working hours, throughout the operational winter period, there is at least one driver for each route, available to attend the loading point, load the vehicle and commence the route within one hour. A supervisor with a means of communication to all winter service vehicles is available at each of our 2 depots all times during winter service operations to ensure that operations are carried out in accordance with this Operational Plan. Document WINTER SERVICE Rev 6 Plan Page 3 of 29 Issue Date Oct 08 A means of suitable communication is available for each winter service vehicle. (5) Weather Forecasting South Ayrshire Council has appointed Meteo Group as their weather forecast provider. For the duration of the winter service period South Ayrshire Council employs Meteo Group to provide a weather forecasting service, including ice prediction, and to monitor road and weather conditions. Meteo Group receive, monitor and interpret on a continuous basis climatic, ice prediction and weather radar information and forward detailed weather forecasts to South Ayrshire Council on a daily basis. During the winter service period, Meteo Group post a 24 hour forecast on a dedicated website around 12:00 each day. This forecast is also sent to South Ayrshire Council by email. Thermal mapping has been used to determine that there are effectively 4 differing climatic condition areas within South Ayrshire. There will be a forecast issued for each of these areas, i.e.: - - Northwest Area 1 - Northeast Area 2 - Southwest Area 3 - Southeast Area 4 These areas are shown in the plan in Appendix 1. SAC has its own road weather sensor site at Corwar on the A714. Transport Scotland has agreed that data from sensor sites located on the A77 trunk road at Dutchhouse and Crossraguel will be made available. The forecast will take account of all relevant road weather data available from these sites and other nearby sites in neighbouring authority areas. The sensor site locations are shown in the plan in Appendix 1 and each sensor site has the facility to provide the following data: - Surface temperature Surface moisture Surface ice Surface salinity Air temperature Dew point Precipitation Deep sub-surface temperature Anemometer Wind vein Road conditions often vary considerably across South Ayrshire due to topography, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, residual salinity and traffic volumes. These factors all influence the possibility of adverse conditions occurring. Adverse conditions can occur for varying periods, day or night, throughout the winter period and can affect all or only parts of the road or footway network. Therefore the winter service comprises of the following forms of treatment: - Precautionary Salting Post Salting/Patrol Check Snow Clearing Condensed Patrol Document WINTER SERVICE Rev 6 Plan Page 4 of 29 Issue Date Oct 08 The duty Winter Service Controller (WSC), in consultation with a stand-by WSC will assess the content of each 24-hour weather forecast. They will determine, based on the degree of certainty or otherwise of the forecast prediction, what course of action should be carried out for the next 24-hour period. This course of action may be one of, or a permutation of, the following: - Precautionary salt at a specific time. Dawn patrol/check Condensed Patrol Police Call Out No Action (6) Treatment Routes Carriageway Salting Routes The routes for precautionary salting are shown in Appendix 2. The routes to be used for post–treatment, shall be the same routes as for precautionary salting shown in Appendix 2, or modified routes where appropriate. The routes to be used for snow clearing shall be the same routes as for precautionary salting shown in Appendix 2, or modified routes where appropriate. Footway Salting Routes The route for precautionary salting and a list of footways treated by overspill from carriageway salting are shown in Appendix 10. (7) Salt Bins Salt bins are provided for the storage of salt, which is for use on public roads and footways. They are placed at critical locations and a register of salt bins maintained (Appendix 4). Salt bins will be placed at the locations identified in Appendix 4 prior to the start of the winter season. Throughout the winter season the bins are replenished with salt as necessary. In general salt bins will placed where a supply vehicle can draw along side to replenish stocks. Document WINTER SERVICE Rev 6 Plan Page 5 of 29 Issue Date Oct 08 (8) Labour Resources RMS will ensure that sufficient trained personnel are available on standby to comply with the requirements of any planned treatment decision and to allow snow clearing operations to be executed when necessary. The personnel available are shown in Appendix 5. By virtue of the Data Protection Act this Appendix has restricted access. RMS resources may be supplemented from other local authority resources, farmers and contractors, should conditions so warrant. The resources available are shown in Appendix 3. RMS staff on standby for the winter service are detailed in Appendix 5. (9) Vehicle and Plant Resources Specialist Plant Specialist Winter Service plant available is shown in Appendix 6. The current fleet replacement programme will ensure that winter service obligations can be met. Programmed repairs and servicing to the fleet will be carried out during the Summer months. The remainder of the fleet will be inspected and serviced as per Transport Services Inspection and Servicing Schedule. Prior to the start of the winter season, RMS will carry out a ’dry’ run of each route, including the fitting and removal of the spinner/demount/snow plough, as applicable, to every vehicle so equipped. Plant Maintenance Sufficient qualified motor fitters will be on standby during the winter maintenance season. In the event of mechanical breakdown or other mechanical failure, any necessary repairs will be carried out without delay to minimise disruption to response and treatment times. All of the salt spreading equipment will be calibrated prior to the start of the winter season. Calibration will be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations, tested and certificated. Re-calibration and testing will take place at any time during the winter maintenance season if doubts over the accuracy of spreading are indicated from salting records. Non Specialist Plant Non-specialist plant will be provided to assist snow clearing operations when necessary. This plant will be inspected and serviced as per Transport Services Inspection and Servicing Schedule.