Roads and Infrastructure Services Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 13 December 2023
Back to Oban Lorn & The Isles Area Committee — 13 December 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL OBAN LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DECEMBER 2023 SERVICES ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES UPDATE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 A Roads and Infrastructure standing report was a fixture on Area Committee agendas throughout the life of the last Council. In the first two rounds of Area Committee meetings in the new Council feedback was sought on the value of these updates, and their format and frequency. Generally Members felt having a standard item was beneficial and it was acknowledged that the Roads and Infrastructure weekly briefings issued to all members each Friday afternoon provide for the main sources of live information on current activities. On top of these briefings there is a bank of resources on the new Member Zone system which include the weekly briefings, subject specific briefings, ad hoc short briefings on issues, relevant previous committee reports, operational service procedures, legislation and Council policies. 1.2 In the last Council the purpose of these reports was to provide an update on service activities but since weekly briefings were introduced around 18 months ago (at the time of writing this report we are on to briefing Edition 127) these have largely superseded the original stated purpose of these reports. 1.3 On the basis of the above this new format has been agreed through the December 2022 round of area committees for this standing item. This format removes duplication for Officers and rather links to existing published information, with additional updates only in the body of the reports if these are specifically requested/noted from previous meetings. The report remains as a standing item and continues to provide the opportunity for Officer engagement at the committee meetings. 2.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Area Committee: 2.1 Note and consider the contents of this report.
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3.0 DETAIL 3.1 Roads and Infrastructure Services provides Members with weekly briefings on topical service activities which are all available here. 3.2 As part of the resources on the new Member Zone system there are various key documents available in an online library here. 3.3 Members will be aware of a significant rain event which took place on 6/7 October this year. There were a number of areas affected by flood water around the Oban and Lorn area including significant parts of Oban around Lochavullin. The trunk road network into Oban and also Mid Argyll was closed due to a combination of flood water and landslips meaning that on the Saturday afternoon, access into many parts of Argyll and Bute was not possible by road. In the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area, the following locations were also affected: • Kilninver bridge was severely affected by scour (water washing out parts of the masonry structure). Extensive repair works have been carried out. • Kilmelford bridge was so badly affected it had to be demolished and a new structure is now in place to allow access. Whilst the bridge is open to all traffic, a hydrology study is being carried out which will inform the design and style of the wing walls (the walls that stand in the river and direct water into and out of the bridge structure). • Scammadale – high river levels washed away an embankment that supports the road. Repairs are being carried out during night shift working which allows the road to be blocked off to allow positioning of the crane/excavator. Good communication shave been established with local residents and arrangements in place for the delivery of essential supplies such as heating oil and animal feed etc. • A816 south of Ardfern – whilst this is not within the OLI area it provides a strategic connection between Oban and Lochgilphead. At the time of wiring the road remains closed due a significant landslide and slope stability concerns. A bund and ditch are being constructed together with an emergency bypass road which is scheduled to open on 16 December subject to weather and any other unforeseen matters. 3.4 Presentations have been made as part of the Members Seminar sessions, the slides from which can be found on the Members Portal. There was also a report taken to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee on 30th November which summarised the impact of the weather event across the whole of Argyll and Bute. The full report can be viewed on the Council website. 4.0 CONCLUSION 4.1 This report provides links to existing published information on service activities and provides for the opportunity for Officer attendance and engagement at committee meetings.
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5.0 IMPLICATIONS 5.1 Policy – Roads and Infrastructure work to a number of policies across the range of service areas 5.2 Financial – revenue and capital budgets are in place to deliver projects and cyclic work 5.3 Legal – none known 5.4 HR – none known 5.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 5.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – where appropriate EqSEIAs will be carried out to identify any implications 5.5.2 Socio-economic Duty – where appropriate EqSEIAs will be carried out to identify any implications 5.5.3 Islands – where appropriate Island impacts assessments will be carried out to identify any implications 5.6 Climate Change – due regard will be given to climate change with a view to minimising any climate change impact and these will be considered as and when they arise 5.7 Risk – risk managed through toolbox talks, safety briefings and where appropriate risk registers – all of the above are monitored through the RIS leadership and management teams 5.8 Customer Service – none known Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Services, Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead for Roads and Transport, Councillor Andrew Kain November 2023 For further information contact: Jim Smith, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Services