northlincs.gov.uk

22          (22)WINTER SERVICE: DESK TOP REVIEW UPDATE – The Director of Places submitted a report advising the Cabinet Member of the progress made to date on the Winter Service Policy desk top review prior to the start of the winter season 2015/16.

A desktop review of the council’s current Winter Service Policy had been undertaken.  It concluded that the policy employed last winter performed very well and that it continued to robustly comply with the national Code of Practice.

The council had received three additional requests for the inclusion of roads in the schedule of precautionary salting routes.  Officers had assessed each request against the policy criteria.  As a result, the car park at the rear of Scunthorpe Market had been included in the Winter Service Policy Section 1.4; Station Road, Brigg (which was not an adopted highway) and Shore Road, Garthorpe had both failed to meet the criteria for inclusion on the precautionary routes. Officers were continually assessing requests for the provision of additional salt bins.

The Winter Service policy continued to include the provision of devolved budget allocations for snow clearing to Town and Parish Councils.  It was proposed to maintain these at the same level as last year.

The report and appendices gave details of how operations would be managed for the winter season 2015/16.

Resolved – (a) That the amendments to the Winter Service Policy 2015/16 be approved, and (b) that the addition of the car park at rear of Scunthorpe Market, as detailed in the report, be approved.

23          (23) PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL TRO PROHIBITION OF MOTOR VEHICLES – BRIDGE LANE, HORKSTOW – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking to introduce an Experimental ‘Prohibition of Motor Vehicles’ Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to the whole length of Bridge Lane, effectively removing all motor vehicles except for those with permitted access.

Horkstow suspension bridge was a Grade II Scheduled Ancient Monument, built in 1834-6 by Sir John Rennie. This was the only suspension bridge designed by Rennie and was one of several bridges built as part of a larger project that included Saxby Bridge.

Horkstow Bridge was owned by the EA Halcrow Group Ltd, an international firm of consulting engineers undertook Principal Inspection and Assessment of all of the EA bridges in 2006. Horkstow Bridge was assessed as a 0 (zero) Ton Weight Limit effectively rendering it incapable of carrying motor traffic. This was not currently signed correctly at the bridge or at the end of Bridge Lane.

Bridge Lane was 1.2km in length and less than 3m wide in places, and was adopted highway from the B1204 Main Street to Horkstow Bridge, where it became a Bridleway along the western bank of the River Ancholme.

There were no turning points or parking facilities on Bridge Lane. Vehicles accessing Bridge Lane must either continue illegally along the Bridleway or turn using the gated field entrances.

Vehicles parking in Bridge Lane blocked access for farm machinery by parking at narrow points or obstructing field access gates. As the section of Bridge Lane between the main road and the proposed gate was 6m, it was not expected that obstruction would occur once the gate was installed. This would however be monitored as part of the ETRO.

Bridge Lane was used to access Horkstow Bridge for anti-social behaviour by motor vehicles. These motor vehicles caused both a danger and general nuisance to those wishing to quietly enjoy the area on foot, by cycle or on horseback.

There was also evidence of significant vandalism and anti-social behaviour at Horkstow Bridge.

Resolved – That the introduction of the Experimental ‘Prohibition of Motor Vehicles’ Traffic Regulation Order, as detailed on the plans at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.