the adopted highways, footpaths and verges. Verges are maintained; but the height and width of verges is not the Council’s responsibility provided it does not impact on safety of the highway. ditches, but only where the ditch or channel has been dug as a specific project to protect the highway (normally in large-scale modern projects). safety of the highway, including flooding, damage to the surface. culverts, if the water course was in existence before the road was created. Somerset Highways are responsible for Culvert under High Lane Highways are going to jet the culvert, now that the silt in the ditch flowing into the culvert has been cleared. Northbrook Road Culvert (Near Sunflower Cottage) When the ends of the culvert have been repaired, Highways will repair the damage caused by heavy traffic. Meanwhile they plan to install high visibility marker posts. Northbrook Road (dip in road) When the budgets allow (after April 2023), Highways will install a concrete channel in the verge, along with other channels throughout the embankments to improve the flow of the surface water. Northbrook Road, (corner by Coppice Gate Farm) The verge has been damaged significantly by traffic. Once the ditch has been cleared to improve the water flow and when the weather is drier, Highways will re-visit and will look to install hi-visibility posts on the bend to encourage traffic to move out into the road. Kent Lane (area near Kent Farm) The culvert is sufficient to take the large volume of water but will need to be checked by neighbouring properties to avoid it getting blocked by large debris. The flow rate is high enough to ensure the culvert is self-cleansing of small material. Additional channels will be dug, by Highways, in the embankments throughout Kent Lane to ensure surface water can drain through the verges. The height of the embankments is not the responsibility of Highways and therefore they will remain high unless the Parish council wishes to fund the work. 6 S PR I NG I S SUE | APR I L 2 0 2 3 Finding it hard because the photos a bFlack and white? Find a flourition of Shapwick News at: https://www.shapwickparishcounci l.org.uk/parish-newsletters/ Remember! Full colour issues of Shapwick News at https://www.shapwickparishcouncil.org.uk/parish-newsletters/ Verges and ditches - the work goes on PAUL ROGERS Recently, on a suitably wet and windy day Parish Councillors met Liam Gill, Assistant Highways Manager, SCC, to discuss a number of highways issue within the village, particularly those related to verges and ditches. Liam Gill outlined the responsibilities of the various interested parties as follows: - Landowners are responsible for Any ditch or water course running through the property, including those alongside public highways. A landowner must take all reasonable and practical steps to maintain the ditch/waterway to prevent flooding onto nearby highways, including the removal of silt and debris to prevent any culverts from getting blocked. Culverts which are not maintained by the Council are the responsibility of the adjoining landowners who own the subsoil beneath the highway to the midpoint of the road. Heavy rain, a sloping site, drainage systems from another age: silt blocking culverts is a common problem in Shapwick Parish Council responsibilities The PC must assist the Highways Department in reporting issues as and when they are discovered. We then visited a number of sites around the village and where possible a plan of action was agreed: Recently, Shapwick News reported on Ash Dieback (SN, October 2022, p. 3). Tree fellings can be dismaying but are sometimes necessary. If you feel strongly about protecting a healthy tree though, it is possible to apply for a Tree Protection Order (TPO). The process is described at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas#making-tree-preservation-orders To find out which trees already have TPOs, and much else, go to the Sedgemoor Interactive Map at: https://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/article/947/Interactive-Mapping-Online click on the Map Legend icon top right and choose filters such as Planning Applications, Planning Restrictions, Conservation etc.
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