Highways Adverse Weather & Winter Service Plan
In this section
High Winds and Gales
High winds and gales can cause disruption on the highway network. Often this is due to trees, or tree branches, either from the highway verge or from adjacent land, being blown down and falling on the highway.
Highway verge trees are included within the scheduled highway safety inspection regime and diseased or unstable trees are identified and remedial works undertaken to remove the risk to the travelling public. Adjacent landowners should also have in place a regular inspection regime to ensure that their trees do not present a risk to the travelling public.
Where the Authority identifies trees on adjacent land which appear to be a risk to the highway the adjacent landowner will be required to take appropriate action. This does not absolve the landowner from their duty to inspect and maintain trees on their own land, including boundary trees which are the landowners responsibility.
In the event that trees fall from adjacent land onto the highway the Authority may be required to remove the obstruction and will recover costs from the landowner.
Where strong winds or gales are forecast the Highways operation is scaled-up to ensure sufficient resources are available to manage the event as far as is reasonably practicable. This will include as appropriate:
- Additional chainsaw gangs made available.
- Specialist tree sub-contractors made available to assist with clearance works.
- Additional plant to remove fallen trees from the highway.
- Additional traffic management available should roads need to be closed and diversions put in place.
- Ensure any highway construction sites are properly secured.
