Lynne Penn, Transport & Access Team Leader to bus routes during flooding and other specific issues highlighted by Parish Councils.

Harjit Hunjan, Community & Business Partnerships Manager, read out the report below that was sent from Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, who was unable to attend.

Public Bus: suspended services or alternative routes

Procedures are in place to ensure the safety and well being of public bus passengers or pupils in the event of a diversion or road closure as a result of planned works, bad weather or an emergency.  It is not possible to provide precise actions to cover every eventuality; the following information acts as a basic guide.

Planned Works  e.g. road resurfacing

Planned works are notified to the Transport Team in advance by the RBWM Network Co-ordinator or by Highways Officers via email to: Transport@rbwm.gov.uk  

The public bus service operators also receive the generic email and will receive further communications from Transport by direct email for their action.  Planned work information is also forwarded to School Transport operators so action can be taken accordingly.

Diversions to routes as a result of planned works are notified to passengers in advance by the public bus operators.  If it is necessary to put a temporary stop in place, public bus operators are required to provide the stop and attach information regarding the variation to the usual stop.  School Transport operators are required to notify their passengers of any diversions to route, particularly if they significantly extend the duration of the route.

Bad Weather  e.g. black ice, snow, flood

Transport@rbwm.gov.uk receives the ‘36 HOUR SUMMARY FORECAST FOR BERKSHIRE CONSORTIUM’ on a daily basis.  This communication gives details of Road Surface Temperatures (RST), expectations of rain, hoar frost and snow.  Details of gritting activity are also communicated.  Action will be required to relay this information to operators and schools as appropriate.

Flooding

In the event of flooding, staff will receive information from the Duty Officer, who will provide instruction and updates.  Action may be necessary around road closures and diversions.  Bus routes maybe affected and additional alternative transport routes will need to be established.  It may be necessary to assign a Duty Transport Officer who is available to deal with out of hours actions.

Public transport operators and school transport operators will need to be informed accordingly.

Evacuation of residents, particularly those who are more vulnerable as a result of age and/or disability may be necessary and suitable accessible transport will need to be arranged. 

In some circumstances, an additional local plan is in place.  An example of this is the Cookham Causeway plan which comes into affect when the High Street becomes inaccessible via normal routes.  People to Places, our Community Transport and Dial a Ride operator, has been commissioned to provide a shuttle service via the Causeway during flooding.

Emergency situation  e.g. car accident, fallen tree

The police would normally attend an emergency situation such as a car accident or fallen tree.  They will decide if a road needs to be closed and will notify the Traffic Team and Streetcare, who will in turn notify other RBWM teams, including Transport.    The Streetcare team normally set up signs for the diversion of traffic.

Notifications will be sent by RBWM staff to Transport@rbwm.gov.uk    Public transport operators and school transport operators will need to be notified as appropriate.