2nd June 2009
SWTRA Partnership Wheels Set In Motion
The South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA) has set the wheels in motion to improve the way it maintains the Welsh Assembly Government's 600km of motorway and trunk roads between the Severn Bridge and Fishguard. The launch of Regional Maintenance Partnerships (RMP) will improve customer service and deliver efficiencies for the Welsh Assembly Government.
SWTRA, run by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, is one of three Agencies contracted by the Welsh Assembly Government to manage Wales' trunk road and motorway network. Since 2006 it has been working with local authorities throughout South and West Wales, together with a number of private sector contractors and consultants. Introducing RMPs, run by Neath Port Talbot Council, Monmouthshire County Council and Carmarthenshire County Borough Council, will build on past success.
The partnerships will maintain safety barriers, structures, drainage and lighting and provide services such as grass cutting, litter collection, sign cleaning and debris patrols. They will ensure consistent and co-ordinated service delivery along the trunk road network.
Head of SWTRA - Richard Jones - explained:
"The three lead authorities have appointed a single partnership manager, supported by a supervisor and support staff, to work in partnerships with neighbouring authorities. This new approach will improve communication between the Agency and the providers and enable everyone involved to react more effectively to emergency incidents, particularly on those parts of the network that experience considerable congestion at peak times.
Improved communication, co-ordination of response resources and better management of activities across the network will improve emergency response and winter maintenance. This new way of working should also reduce the number of lane closures needed for road maintenance.
The new partnership working will also enable the Welsh Assembly Government to compare and evaluate the services being provided by SWTRA and predict more accurately the costs of each project.
Neath Port Talbot Council leader Ali Thomas said the overall aim of the partnership is to draw on each individual authority's strengths and local knowledge to effectively manage the trunk roads and motorways in South Wales.
Councillor Thomas said: "This involvement is welcomed by each local council as these roads form the economic lifeblood for sustaining and regenerating their local communities."
Pictured are partners,
Councillor Ali Thomas, Leader Neath Port Talbot Council
Councillor Peter Fox, Leader Monmouthshire Council
Councillor Jamie Adams, Deputy Leader Pembrokeshire Council
Richard Workman, (Director of Technical Services -Carmarthenshire County Council
Richard Jones, Head of the South Wales Trunk Road Agency
Ian Davies, Head of Network Operations, Welsh Assembly Government
