Please note that the 'construction' timeframe under 'Stages' above is merely notional for the time being as the programme of work has yet to be published by our contractor.
Description
Provision of new puffin crossing with associated street lighting on the Bridgnorth Road in Highley.
Location
Grid ref: 373942, 283902.
What3words Ref: ///retrain.hotspots.nicknames
On target?
Constructed.
Map
Please note that construction work undertaken can often cover an area rather than one specific place, so the pin on the map on this page is intended as a guide only.
Updates
8 December 2023
Following recent development within the Highley area, “developer money” (Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levies(CIL)) became available to finance improvement works to the existing public highway. Initially, an investigation to understand the feasibility of potential improvement works was undertaken and financed with CIL. Following this investigation, representatives of Shropshire Council and the Parish Council had meetings together in February and March 2022 to discuss and prioritise these improvements on behalf of the local community. A main priority identified was to improve accessibility and connectivity to the Severn Centre on behalf of the wider community. To clarify, despite the investigatory works being financed by CIL, the actual crossing was funded by Section 106 contributions. Once identified, a further site meeting was arranged on 24 May 2022 between members of the Parish, and representatives of Shropshire Council’s Highway Development Control Team to observe the conditions and requirements. The observed pedestrian movements, particularly their adherence to an informal pedestrian desire line, was agreed to be a reliable representative of actual usage and therefore used to inform the design. Unfortunately, despite the intentions to progress the design at the identified site, a number of constraints, including the concentration of underground utilities, proved to be too prohibitive and therefore forced the crossing facility to be re-located towards the Severn Centre. Despite the crossing not being in the desired location, the professional opinion is content that the actual location is appropriate from a technical perspective. The state of the pavement post construction works will need to be addressed by the contractor, as part of site supervision and post scheme monitoring which the Council will undertake. Any additional and improved crossings, such as the crossing on Bridgnorth Road and Hazelwell’s Road, have been identified as potential future funding requests. As part of the Place Plan review that is currently ongoing, all projects identified by the parish council are being considered against other identified priorities within the Place Plan for future funding opportunities via CIL or other funding streams.
15 February 2024
- Civils will have road crossing complete and reinstated by COP Friday. Then footway reinstatement on Monday
- L & R Roadlines will be doing the antiskid and lining on Monday
- Svetofor installing street furniture on Tuesday
- Controller will be installed once we have power to feeder pillar
Correspondence history
January 2024
Dear Councillor Williams,
I hope this correspondence finds you and your constituents well.
This correspondence concerns the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funded scheme to install a signalised crossing to facilitate pedestrian crossing movements in Highley.
The CIL Project team recognise that this scheme is a local priority, with the delays to deliver it being a source of ongoing concern for yourself and the community. Shropshire Council have accepted both the technical designs and associated Road Safety Audits prepared by its consultants, WSP, unfortunately the project’s progression has been delayed as we have been waiting for third party works estimates. These estimates have just been received today (12 January 2024) so Shropshire Council is now able in to place material orders with multiple contractors and to instruct the Principal Contractor, Swarco, to programme the scheme for installation. Every effort will be made to impress the urgency of this request upon Swarco, who we trust will deliver this scheme at their programme’s earliest opportunity.
Finally, I would ask that any further correspondence be directed to the cilproject@shropshire.gov.uk inbox – the enquiry will then be captured on the Member’s Portal to ensure that Local Members have a detailed and reliable history of correspondence regarding such issues going forward.
Thank you for your patience.
February 2024
I have taken an extract from the member portal which provides clarification on the reason why the crossing was located in the position now being built:
‘Following recent development within the Highley area, “developer money” (Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levies(CIL)) became available to finance improvement works to the existing public highway. Initially, an investigation to understand the feasibility of potential improvement works was undertaken and financed with CIL. Following this investigation, representatives of Shropshire Council and the Parish Council had meetings together in February and March 2022 to discuss and prioritise these improvements on behalf of the local community. A main priority identified was to improve accessibility and connectivity to the Severn Centre on behalf of the wider community. To clarify, despite the investigatory works being financed by CIL, the actual crossing was funded by Section 106 contributions.
Once identified, a further site meeting was arranged on 24 May 2022 between members of the Parish, and representatives of Shropshire Council’s Highway Development Control Team to observe the conditions and requirements. The observed pedestrian movements, particularly their adherence to an informal pedestrian desire line, was agreed to be a reliable representative of actual usage and therefore used to inform the design. Unfortunately, despite the intentions to progress the design at the identified site, a number of constraints, including the concentration of underground utilities, proved to be too prohibitive and therefore forced the crossing facility to be re-located towards the Severn Centre. Despite the crossing not being in the desired location, the professional opinion is content that the actual location is appropriate from a technical perspective.
The state of the pavement post construction works will need to be addressed by the contractor, as part of site supervision and post scheme monitoring which the Council will undertake. Any additional and improved crossings, such as the crossing on Bridgnorth Road and Hazelwell’s Road, have been identified as potential future funding requests. As part of the Place Plan review that is currently ongoing, all projects identified by the parish council are being considered against other identified priorities within the Place Plan for future funding opportunities via CIL or other funding streams.’
Therefore, to confirm, In terms of the works being carried out, this is a requirement on the developer to comply with their planning permission. There may be different views from residents, however, if the Council had decided that there was no need for the crossing, the only other option would have been that there was no crossing at all, due to the planning obligation needing to meet legal tests. I understand that the PC and previous member was fully aware of the proposal before the design work started in 2022.
I’m sorry this is not the message the PC and residents want to hear, but I am equally not in a position where we stop the developers work. By doing so, the developer would be in breach of their permission and moreover, this Council may have to pay for abortive work.
Kind regards,
Tracy Darke
Assistant Director Economy and Place
Place Directorate
Contact
Please contact cilproject@shropshire.gov.uk with any comments or queries.
Please note that all queries the teams receive along with the responses will be uploaded onto the portal to provide updated information for everyone. Please don't include any personal or sensitive information as this will need to be redacted.