www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Equality Impact Assessment - Highways Network Management
1. What is the name of the policy or service that is being assessed?
Highways Network Management
2. What are the aims of the policy or service? Whose needs is it designed to meet? What are the current priorities?
To maintain the highway and rights of way network in Wiltshire and to fulfil the duties and obligations of highways authority under the relevant legislation, including the Highways Act 1980 and New Roads and Streetworks Act. The service is designed to meet the needs of those people who live, work or transit the county. The current priority is to ensure the safety of the network for users.
3. In what ways might this policy or service affect some groups of people differently? Might some groups find it harder to access the service? Do some groups have particular needs that are not well met by the current policy or service?
The highway and rights of way network is available for use by everyone, subject to the provisions of the various legislation particularly with regard to the use of vehicles.
The highway and rights of way network has developed historically and may not always be suitable for modern use. Stiles and other features on rights of way and kerbs on carriageways can restrict access for some users.
In particular the disabled, mobility impaired, partially sighted and the elderly could be at a disadvantage in making use of the highway and rights of way network.
4. What evidence do you have for your judgement? Is there evidence of public concern (e.g. complaints)? Have staff raised concerns? Is there local or national research to suggest that there could be a problem?
Requests are received for the installation of dropped kerbs at particular locations in order to improve access for wheelchair users. Higher standards of footway and carriageway maintenance are sometimes requested by the public. Because of financial limitations it is not always possible to meet all of these requests.
Highways maintenance staff and rights of way wardens are well aware of the potential problems faced by some users of the network.
5. Who have you consulted with as part of your assessment? What were the results? ave you published the results of that consultation? If so, where?
No specific consultation has taken place with regard to this assessment, but extensive consultation was carried out in connection with the Local Transport Plan and the results of that consultation were published. Consultation will take place on the Rights of Way Improvement Plan which is currently being developed.
6. If you have found that the policy or service might have an adverse impact on a particular group of people, can you justify this?
The very nature of some rights of way and the historical development of streets restricts access for some users. The cost of removing all of these potential barriers would be prohibitive and it is necessary to focus the limited resources available on those areas where they can be most effective.
7. If the impact cannot be justified, what do you intend to do about this? Are there changes that you could introduce which would make the policy or service work better for this group of people? Is further research or consultation required?
Liaison with disabled user groups and others to help target improvements in access at those locations where they will be most effective will continue. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan will develop proposals for addressing access issues on rights of way.
8. How will you monitor the take-up or impact of the policy or service in future?
The Local Transport Plan is monitored and reported on an annual basis, and the transport policies are reviewed on a five year cycle. The process provides the opportunity for a thorough review of relevant policies including consultation with the public and interested parties, and involves assessment of the final plan by Government Office for the South West.
Liaison will continue with local groups and others having an interest in these matters in order to address specific concerns.
9. What actions do you plan to take as a result of this equality impact assessment? Please state any resource implications.
No specific action is proposed as a result of this assessment, but a separate assessment will be required of the developing Rights of Way Improvement Plan in due course, and any new or developing policies with regard to highway maintenance will need to be assessed.
10. There is a legal requirement to publish the outcomes of Equality Impact Assessments. Please outline how / where this will happen.
In line with corporate information and freedom of information policies.
11. Name of person completing form:
Highways Network Improvement Manager
Date assessment completed:
5 February 2007
12. Senior manager approval:
Assistant Director Operations
Date:
5 February 2007
Contact Details
By Post
Equality & Diversity Team
Development Services
Wiltshire County Council
County Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN
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01225 713510
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