Highway programmes
Grass cutting schedule
We separate our highway verge maintenance into two programmes; rural grass cutting and urban grass cutting and there are various contractors engaged in this work, on our behalf, around the county.
Find more information about grass, weeds, trees and hedges.
Integrated Transport Programme
The Integrated Transport programme will help to deliver the eight Integrated Transport Strategies that have been developed for the District/Boroughs, together with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The Transport Strategies are updated to support the District/Borough Local Plans and the County Council’s Strategic Plan for 2018 to 2022 which has three interconnected priority outcomes that were refreshed in 2020, as follows:
- Have access to more good jobs and share the benefits of economic growth
- Be healthier and independent for longer
- Feel safer, happier and more supported in their community
Integrated Transport Programme 2024-2025 (5 MB)
Weed control
Weed control is undertaken under one of two treatment schedules; rural, for roads with a speed limit of 40mph and above and urban, for roads with a speed limit of 30mph and below.
Preventative maintenance treatments such as surface dressing and micro asphalt are used to preserve and extend the life of roads that are already in a reasonable to good condition. Details of this year’s programme of road surfaces to receive preventative maintenance treatments can be found below.
All the treatments are weather dependant and this will impact on the progress of the below programmes if there are prolonged cold or wet conditions. For further detail on the types of treatment please see our asset investment page.
Local Community Priorities
Each county councillor has a Divisional Highway Programme (DHP) which provides the council with a platform to prioritise local highway issues that may not otherwise meet the intervention criteria, for further investigation. These priorities are reviewed twice a year.
For further information please see our Divisional highway programme page.
Structural Maintenance Programme
We are responsible for maintaining all public roads and footways in a safe and serviceable condition. Structural maintenance is the collective term for activities which maintain the integrity of the road and footway structures which make up the network. It comprises good value, planned maintenance activities such as footway and carriageway resurfacing/reconstruction.
Network North Roads Resurfacing Fund
Made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
In October 2023 the Government announced additional allocations for a 'Roads Resurfacing Fund' made possible by reallocating HS2 funding. A total of £3.188M of additional funding has been made available to Staffordshire County Council for each of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.
For information on the additional highway maintenance works that have already been delivered and, will be delivered in the 2024/25 financial year using this funding and the additional Budget 2023 allocation please see the plan below.
Network North Highway Maintenance
1. Additional resurfacing and other work either completed in 2023/24 or scheduled in 2024/25 using the additional funding in Budget 2023 and the further funding confirmed in the Network North allocation.
| Areas / roads where work is planned | Type of works being undertaken on asset group (eg: road resurfacing, bridge repair, culverts maintenance, cycleways, footways etc) | Indicative cost | Surface area resurfaced (if applicable) m2 | Benefits from it (eg: improved journey times etc) |
|---|
2023/24 Budget additional funding |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| A511 Horninglow Road (original scheme) |
Road reconstruction and resurfacing |
£0.30 |
1,800 |
Replacement of life expired roads, improved safety accessibility and network resilience. |
|---|
| A53 Broad Street, Leek |
As above |
£0.32 |
1,600 |
As above |
|---|
| A53 Newcastle Road, Baldwins Gate |
As above |
£0.24 |
1,300 |
As above |
|---|
| A34 Talke Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme |
As above |
£0.16 |
1,900 |
As above |
|---|
| A53 Newcastle Road, Loggerheads |
As above |
£0.22 |
1,050 |
As above |
|---|
| C0018 Tutbury Road/Belmont Road, Needwood |
As above |
£0.53 |
6,000 |
As above |
|---|
| A518 Bamford Bridge roundabout, Uttoxeter |
As above |
£0.23 |
3,400 |
As above |
|---|
| Member prioritised 'pothole' fund - various locations Countywide |
Repair of carriageway, footway and cycleway defects |
£2.00 |
|
Localised repair of defects to network safety and resilience. |
|---|
| Various locations Countywide |
Preventative surfacing pre-patching (acceleration of programme to facilitate additional surface treatment) |
£0.47 |
7,000 |
Early life preventative treatment to extend life of the road providing improved safety, accessibility, and network resilience. |
|---|
| Total 2023/24 (Budget additional) |
|
£4.46m |
|
|
|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| 2023/24 Network North Funding |
|
|
|
|
|---|
| Horninglow Road North, Burton upon Trent - extended scheme |
Road - reconstruction and resurfacing |
£0.60 |
3,400 |
Replacement of life expired roads, improved safety accessibility and network resilience |
|---|
| Wolverhampton Road, Stafford - extended scheme |
As above |
£0.2 |
1,100 |
As above |
|---|
| Lichfield Road, Stafford - additional scheme brought forward |
As above |
£0.8 |
4,700 |
As above |
|---|
| Various locations Countywide |
Preventative surfacing pre-patching (acceleration of programme to facilitate additional surface treatment) |
£0.60 |
9,000 |
Early life preventative treatment to extend life of the road providing improved safety, accessibility, and network resilience. |
|---|
| Total 2023/24 |
|
£2.2m |
|
|
|---|
2. Further additional work that will be completed during 2024/25 – again setting out both expected total volumes of additional work (e.g. miles of road resurfaced) and where it is planned.
The below 2024/25 Network North Funding programme is subject to approval by Cabinet on 20th March 2024.
| Areas / roads where work has been carried out | Type of works being undertaken on asset group | Indicative cost (£m) | Surface area resurfaced (if applicable) m2 | Benefits from it (e.g. improved journey times etc) |
|---|
| A511/B5008 Ashby Rd / Newton Road, Burton |
Road - reconstruction and resurfacing |
£0.6 |
2,000 |
Replacement of life expired roads, improved safety accessibility and network resilience |
|---|
| A515 Lichfield Road, Elmhurst, Lichfield |
As above |
£0.4 |
2,500 |
As above |
|---|
| A522 Tape Street, Cheadle |
As above |
£0.2 |
1,200 |
As above |
|---|
| B5368 Lower Milehouse Lane, Cross Heath, Newcastle Under Lyme |
As above |
£0.50 |
1,800 |
As above |
|---|
| C260 Elliots Lane, Codsall |
As above |
£0.30 |
1,100 |
As above |
|---|
| A520 Windmill Hill, Meir Heath |
As above |
£0.50 |
1,800 |
As above |
|---|
| C370 Coton Lane, Tamworth |
As above |
£1.70 |
6,900 |
As above |
|---|
| Total 2024/25 |
|
£4.2m |
|
|
|---|
3. How the authority is introducing innovation in the delivery of highways maintenance (e.g. the use of new equipment or software) and where it plans to go further.
We have a long history of introducing innovation in the delivery of highways maintenance whether that be through the development of long-term strategic partnerships with delivery partners to ensure the best outcomes for the way we manage, maintain and improve over 6,000km of roads, through to innovative use of technology, new ways of working and the use of low carbon materials supported by our own highways’ laboratory.
From the recycling of arisings from the emptying of gullies, the introduction of the JCB Pothole Pro to tackle additional potholes, the use of low carbon materials and of drones and road AI to carry out condition surveys we continue to innovate.
This year (2024) will see our customer reporting system provide improved reporting and updates, programmes of work and information as we continue to invest in digital solutions.
4. How the authority is using its street works and other powers to ensure that resurfacing works are not undermined by repeated digging up of the same road by utility companies.
As highway authority we have a number of statutory duties including a duty to maintain the highway, ensure it is safe for highway users and, secure the expeditious movement of traffic.
We are also aware of the need for safe and reliable utility services and the necessity for street works to install, maintain and improve existing supplies to local residents and businesses but understand these can be disruptive to road users. Staffordshire’s economy is diverse, and we need a successful, vibrant economy creating opportunities for people to secure better paid jobs and to prosper. Investment in infrastructure in Staffordshire has created or safeguarded more than 10,000 jobs since 2024 and enabled construction of more than 4,000 new homes all of which require access or changes to the local road network.
From our quarterly coordination meetings with works promotors including those from the gas, water, sewerage, electric and telecommunication providers, we seek to ensure that the same roads are not repeatedly dug up by different organisations.
Whilst we don’t have powers to prevent emergency repairs to utility apparatus or, for new connections we do use powers under Section 58 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to prevent companies from carrying out planned works for up to three years (previously five years) following major highway works.
We have worked closely with digital infrastructure providers replanning our footway renewal programmes to enable the roll out of fibre telecommunications equipment whilst avoiding damage to newly resurfaced footways.
5. The total amount of investment in the maintenance of local highway networks for the most recent 5 years (i.e. for the years 2019/20; 2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23; and 2023/24) and planned investment for 24/25. Authorities should summarise both total expenditure and total DfT grant funding.
| | Total DfT capital grant funding (excluding Integrated Transport Block) | Total amount of capital investment in the maintenance of local highway networks (including both council and DfT grant funding streams) | Total amounts of revenue spend on the maintenance of local highway networks |
|---|
| |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|---|
| 2019/20 |
20.642 |
30.675 |
10.865 |
|---|
| 2020/21 |
33.802 |
38.672 |
13.801 |
|---|
| 2021/22 |
25.067 |
35.216 |
13.262 |
|---|
| 2022/23 |
25.067 |
40.508 |
29,086 |
|---|
| 2023/24 |
32.711 |
50.688 |
18.015 |
|---|
| 2024/25 |
28.255 |
50.208 |
17.583 |
|---|
Network North Funding Plan downloadable version (233 Kb)