Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council Winter Service Operational Plan Environment Directorate The Winter Service Plan sets out the operational strategy for the treatment and clearance of Neath Port Talbot’s County Road Network, along with the instructed Trunk Road Network indicated by The South Wales Trunk Roads Agency. ~ 0 ~ RECORD OF CHANGES DATE PAGE NO. REASON FOR CHANGED BY AMENDMENT ~ 1 ~ Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................. 4 2. Statement of Policies and Responsibilities ................................................... 4 3. Route Planning for Carriageways ................................................................ 5 4. Weather Prediction and Information .......................................................... 12 5. Organisational Arrangements and Personnel .............................................. 14 6. Facilities, Plant, Vehicles and Equipment .................................................. 15 7. Information and publicity .......................................................................... 16 8. Emergency 'White Out' Conditions ............................................................ 16 9. 24 Hour Contact Numbers ......................................................................... 17 11.1 - APPENDIX 1 - Plant / Vehicle Deployment for precautionary salting.... 11.2 - APPENDIX 2 - Human Resources Deployment for precautionary salting ............................................................................................................... 11.3 - APPENDIX 3 – Cross Boundary Gritting Arrangements .................... 21 11.3.1 - Bridgend CBC .............................................................................. 21 11.3.2 - Powys CC ..................................................................................... 21 11.3.3 - Carmarthenshire CC ..................................................................... 22 11.3.4 - Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC ............................................................. 22 11.3.5 - City and County of Swansea ......................................................... 22 11.4 - APPENDIX 4 - Precautionary Salting Routes - Highways .................. 23 11.4.1 - High Route 1 ................................................................................ 23 11.4.2 - Low Route 1 ................................................................................. 28 11.4.3 - High Route 2 ................................................................................ 33 11.4.4 - Low Route 2 ................................................................................. 38 ~ 2 ~ 11.5 - APPENDIX 5 – Precautionary Treatment Decision Making Guidance ..................................................................................................................... 42 11.6 - APPENDIX 6 – Treatment Matrix Guidance ...................................... 43 ~ 3 ~ 1. Introduction Under SUB-SECTION 41 (1A) OF THE HIGHWAYS ACT 1980 the ‘highway authority are under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.’ The County Borough Council in its capacity as Highway Authority within Neath Port Talbot is responsible for winter service activities on all adopted highways in Neath, Port Talbot and the Upper Lliw Valley (except as stated below). The South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) acts as Agent Highway Authority for the Welsh Government and is responsible for the M4 motorway, A465 and sections of the A48 Trunk Roads in the County Borough including the sections of motorway in each of the adjoining unitary authorities of Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Bridgend. Neath Port Talbot CBC acts as a term contractor for SWTRA in this respect. SWTRAs Adverse Weather Plan sets out the Welsh Government’s policy and objectives in the context of local service delivery on trunk roads in accordance with WELSH GOVERNMENT’S TRUNK ROAD MAINTENANCE MANUAL 2015 SECTION 2.2.22, WINTER AND ADVERSE WEATHER SERVICE, VERSION 4 - 29/7/14. APPENDIX H TO WELL MAINTAINED HIGHWAYS, THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT covers winter service issues and provides guidance to highway authorities on winter service operations. This code and periodic revisions to it are considered in collaboration with other Welsh Council’s via CSS Wales as part of maintaining this authority’s plan. All aspects of this Plan are reviewed periodically in consultation with key stakeholders, to consider any changing circumstances and requests for additional services. The aim is to continually strive to improve upon the effectiveness of the winter service provided. 2. Statement of Policies and Responsibilities The Director of Environment has devolved the planning of the winter service activity to the Highways and Drainage Services Section within Streetcare ~ 4 ~ Services, whilst the execution of winter service activity is undertaken by Streetcare Services in general. Under instruction from SWTRA, Streetcare Services are also responsible for winter service operations on the M4 between Pyle (Junction 37) in the east and Pont Abraham (Junction 49) in the west, the short length of A48 between Baglan in the east and Earlswood in the west and the A465 between Llandarcy and the County Borough boundary at Glynneath. Prior to the winter season there is liaison with all neighbouring unitary authorities (Carmarthenshire CC, Powys CC, Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC, CC Swansea and Bridgend CBC) to confirm cross-boundary gritting arrangements and also with South Wales Police to confirm contact arrangements in case of emergencies. The cross border gritting arrangements can be found in the appendices of this document. The winter 'risk period' is considered to run from mid-October to mid-March. At evenings and weekends (out of hours), gritting arrangements and any changes to planned action are co-ordinated by the Standby Officer. 3. Route Planning for Carriageways Given in the appendices are the identified carriageway routes for pre-treatment salting. These routes have been compiled in accordance with the Winter Maintenance Service Review reported to the Council’s Environment and Highways Cabinet Board in July 2014. Pre-treatment salting is carried out such that the identified routes are treated prior to the forecast time for the onset of frost or icy conditions. Furthermore, if icy conditions persist the routes then continue to be treated as and when deemed necessary. All precautionary treatment routes take approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to complete. Treatment is also carried out on other routes as demand and the level of resources permit with the prioritisation as detailed below. Any post-treatment salting is carried out on a rolling basis using gritting vehicles as well as hand gritting, again as far as is practical and resources permit. Prioritisation will take into account gradients and usage etc. which will similarly apply during snow conditions where there is a requirement for snow clearing. ~ 5 ~ I) Motorways and trunk roads [as directed by SWTRA]; II) 'A' and 'B' roads carrying industrial traffic, access to hospitals, fire stations and emergency centres; III) Other 'C' and Class III roads connecting villages to (i) and (ii) above. IV) Access to key sources of fuel and food; V) Bus routes (including school bus routes). Industrial estate roads; VI) Through routes in built up areas; VII) "Short cut" routes; VIII) Lanes serving isolated farms; IX) Any other routes deemed necessary at the time. No pre-treatment salting is carried out on footways or cycle routes. However, when icy conditions persist post-treatment salting is carried out on high usage footways including town centre pedestrian areas and strategic footways near schools, hospitals etc. Below is a schedule of locations, listed geographically, that have been identified as being appropriate for consideration for post-treatment salting of carriageways and / or footways where appropriate. Cimla Fire & Ambulance station Neath Port Talbot General Hospital Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School Crynallt Primary School St Joseph’s Primary School Glannant Way estate Falcon Drive estate Neath Neath pedestrianised area Neath College Dwr Y Felin Comprehensive Waunceirch Primary School Blaenhonddan Special Needs School Neath Abbey ~ 6 ~ Neath Abbey Infants School Stratton Way Tai Llwyd Bryncoch Bryncoch Primary School Ysgol Hendre Special Needs School Farm Rd Rhyddings Leiros Parc Drive Llygad yr Haul Cwmbach Rd Rhos Heol Y Nant Primary School Plas Rd Delffordd estate Skewen Coed Franc Infants School Briton Ferry Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School Cadoxton Llangatwg Comprehensive School Catwg Primary School Tonna Gnoll Infants School Wenallt Rd Primary School Fairlyland Rd to Gnoll entrance Ivy Tower Rd up to cattle grid Dan y Graig Rd Aberdulais ~ 7 ~ Forest Hill Cilfrew Llangatwg Comprehensive School Main Rd March Hywel estate Clyne Clun Primary School Dunvant Ave Bryn Terrace Seven Sisters Bryndulais Row Fire Station Heol Heddwch estate Banwen School Rd Highland Crescent Maesmarch Primary School Ton Purddyn Crynant School Rd Crynant Primary School Woodland estate Coed Ddu Rd Glynneath Wellfield Place Fire Station & Ambulance Station New St Ysgol Gynradd Powys CC boundary back lane from Angel PH to A4109 Cwmgwrach / Blaengwrach School St (Blaengwrach) Primary School Parish Rd Resolven Glyn Castle Water Fall Rd ~ 8 ~ School Rd - Ynys Fach Junior School Cilmaengwyn Cwmddu Rd Pencwmddu Rd Maesgwyn Cilmaengwyn