www.wiltshire.gov.uk
Road Closures and Diversions
Index of Content
Temporary Road Closures
(This only applies to highways maintained at public expense and public rights of way)
Who can legally close the road?
Wiltshire County Council, as the highway authority, can authorise a road to be closed to allow road works to take place or to ensure safety at certain sporting or social events. District Councils can also authorise closures for street parties and fairs etc. The Police can close roads for public safety reasons.
Who can apply to close the road?
The Highway Authority (Wiltshire County Council) and Statutory Undertakers – Gas, Water, Electricity etc can apply to close a road to carry out essential works on their apparatus.
Builders/Thatcher’s for maintenance and repairs – It is recommended that you employ a suitable company to undertake the road closure on your behalf. The County Councils’ contractor Ringway Infrastructure Services (www.ringway.co.uk) is one such company.
Road closures are considered to be a last resort and will only be granted following a complete application and justification for closing a road.
Who do I need to ask?
If you wish to close the road to carry out road works or to hold an event, please contact the local Area Streetworks Co-ordinator in the Environmental Services Department at the earliest opportunity. This is important to ensure that your works do not conflict with any planned roadworks or event/road closure nearby. We will help with advice on what you can and cannot do and with completing the application form, if necessary.
How much notice is needed?
For planned work – a minimum of eight weeks notice is required to close a road / footpath. It is important that potential applicants discuss the details of the proposed activity with the Area Co-ordinators at the earliest opportunity. Emergencies – There will be occasions when a road needs to be closed with little or no notice by the Police, Highway Authority or Utility. It is essential that the Area Co-ordinator is notified immediately of any emergency road closure.
What will it cost to close a road / footpath / public right of way?
- £550 plus advertising (estimated to be £600)
Emergency Closure - £155
Charges will be subject to periodic review.
How to apply
Please read the Guidance Notes below and complete the application fully. The application should be sent, along with the application fee, to the Area Co-ordinator.
Note:
The type of Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) required depends on the type of activity. If road works or an event will take place on the highway, a road closure may be required. Where a road closure is considered to be the only option for the work or event to take place safely, a diversion route will need to be agreed, along with all appropriate diversion signing.
Traffic management plans and temporary TRO’s will require adequate signing. If direction signs are required then these are normally supplied and erected by a professional signing arm of a motoring organisation or Chapter 8 accredited companies offering a similar service, these have their own public liability insurance and the ability to erect correct signing. The extent and position of signs will be agreed with the Area Co-ordinator prior to erection.
Application for Temporary Road Closure
Notes for Guidance
1. Notice periods
Planned work – Eight weeks notice is required before the start date.
Emergencies – if something has happened that is likely to cause a danger to persons or property on or adjacent to the public highway and the road needs to be closed, please contact the Area Co-ordinator as soon as possible.
2. Start Date and Duration
A start date and duration must be agreed by the Area Co-ordinator.
3. Extensions
Extensions for planned works require four weeks notice and are not guaranteed.
4. Intermittent closures
On occasions, the nature of work may result in a road being closed intermittently over a period, i.e. a closure may be requested for four weeks, but the road might only be physically closed for 10 working days during that period. This must be stated on the application.
Retaining a road closure when works are suspended is not acceptable.
5. Minimising the Impact of a Road Closure
If a road closure is agreed, it is essential that delays are minimised by:
- Maximising the working day e.g. working 24 hours / 7seven days a week
- Avoid closing the road at peak times e.g. only closing the highway outside peak hours/at night.
- Agreeing a suitable diversion route with the Area Co-ordinator.
6. Insurance
The Applicant must be covered by Public Liability Insurance which should be available for inspection; minimum cover to be £5 million. Such insurance must indemnify the Highway Authority from and against all actions, claims, losses and expenses whatsoever in respect of loss of life or personal injury or damage to property, howsoever caused, arising out of or in any way attributable to the road closure or the activity. A copy of the insurance certificate must be submitted with the application.
Planning A Road Closure
Step 1
1. A site visit is to be arranged in advance with the Area Co-ordinator to determine whether a road closure is required.
Step 2
Consultation
1. Consult with Local Stakeholders in conjunction with the local authority
It is the applicant’s responsibility to discuss the effects of a road closure with local businesses, schools, community facilities, bus companies, parish councils and residents who may be affected prior to making an application in order to avoid, or cater for, other planned events. Any issues these discussions may raise must be identified on the application form and should be dealt with reasonably by the applicant. It is essential that this is undertaken at the preliminary stages of the application. Wiltshire County Council will inform the Statutory Consultees and the local County Councillor.
Step 3
Make A Formal Application For A Road Closure
Name of Applicant : This should be a named person responsible for promoting the closure.
On behalf ofCompany /Organisation : This should be the Company/Organisation responsible for promoting the closure e.g. Utility/House Owner.
24 hr Contact Name and Telephone No : This must be a person who can undertake any action required on .site. (A Call Centre number is not acceptable).
Step 4
Implementing And Maintaining The Closure
1. Notices and advance warning signs
If a road closure has been granted by order, Wiltshire County Council will erect a laminated copy of the road closure order at either end of the road to be closed. On longer sections of road, intermediate notices may also be required to be erected. It will be Wiltshire County Council’s responsibility to ensure these notices are in place throughout the duration of the works. It is also Wiltshire County Council’s responsibility to remove the notices as soon as the works are complete.
Note : A road closure is only in force while both the closure notices and the appropriate traffic signs are in place.
The applicant will provide and place a yellow advanced notice sign on the public highway, at either end of the closure, advising motorists of the closure no less than two weeks before the closure commences. The advance notice sign will be enhanced with a road closed sign on the first day of the closure by the Applicant.
Note: Any changes to the start date must be conveyed to the Streetworks Co-ordinator.
Applicants must notify affected properties of the road closure, by letter, not less than two weeks before the start date. This must provide the applicants contact name, telephone number and the proposed start and end dates. A copy of the letter should be sent to the Area Co-ordinator.
2. Road Closed and Diversion signs
The diversion route must be clearly signed by the Applicant to avoid driver confusion, in accordance with the County Council’s diversion plan.
3. Information board
An ‘Information Board’ must be placed by the applicant advising of the purpose of the closure and a 24 hours contact number during the road closure.
An illustration of \ typical information board
4. Signing and Guarding Arrangements
The provision, operation and maintenance of all signs, lighting and guarding of the works shall be in accordance with the requirement of The New Roads and Street Works Act, 1991 ‘Safety at Street Works and Road Works’ Code of Practice and read in conjunction with the Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 8.
Please note: This is a 24 hour a day responsibility, including the maintenance of the signs by regular patrols whilst the Road Closure is in force.
5. Intermittent Closures
When the nature of work requires an intermittent closure, signs must only be erected if the road is physically closed. If works are suspended all signing must be covered or laid down. It is not acceptable to leave ‘road closed’, or diversion signs up when the road is not physically closed by works.
6. Emergency Service Vehicles
Access for emergency service vehicles must be available at all times.
7. Arrangements to Ensure Access to Properties
Provision for vehicular access to properties affected by any temporary closure should be maintained wherever possible. Applicants must liaise with individual property owners to ensure that this is achieved.
8. Pedestrians and Equestrians
Unless specified in the Order, Pedestrian and Equestrian access is available at all times.
9. Maintenance of the Closure
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all signing, lighting and guarding is inspected and maintained on a daily basis to ensure the integrity of the closure and diversion route.
Step 5
Removing The Road Closure
1. Prior to removing the road closure, the applicant will ensure that all works are completed, including reinstatements. Containers and waste must also be removed from site. Please notify Area Co-ordinators on completion of closure. All signs used for the road closure and diversion route will be removed as soon as the road is fit to return to the travelling public.
Contact Details
By Post
North and West Wiltshire Areas
Mr D Gorton , ACTech
Wiltshire County Council
36 Lancaster Road
Bowerhill
Melksham
Wiltshire
SN12 6QT
Salisbury and Kennet Areas
Mr T Higgins, ACTech
Wiltshire County Council
The Avenue
Wilton
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP2 0BT
By Email
By Telephone
North and West Wiltshire Areas: 01225 713497
Salisbury and Kennet Areas: 01722 744440
By Fax
North and West Wiltshire Areas:01225 713309
Salisbury and Kennet Areas: 01722 744446
By Hand
This can be either County Hall or our offices at Melksham or Wilton
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
