We are responsible for maintaining roads throughout the borough.
We have a responsibility under the Highways Act to keep our roads in a safe condition. This does not mean that it we are required to repair every defect of which we're aware, but we must carry out regular inspections and have a clear maintenance policy in place.
Planned maintenance
Planned maintenance is aimed at repairing whole lengths or large sections of roads and footways whose condition is not so serious as to be hazardous but which require works to prevent further deterioration.
These roads are characterised by large areas of cracked paving and depressions in the footway, uneven kerb levels, rutting, potholes and badly worn road surfacing.
Hazardous defects are addressed as part of the defect maintenance regime.
Highways maintenance priorities
In arriving at the borough's priorities for Planned Maintenance, technical assessment of the whole of the borough's highway network is undertaken over a three-year cycle.
Visual inspections are undertaken in accordance with the principles of the United Kingdom Pavement Management System (UKPMS).
This system is now used by all highway authorities to support their transport plans.
The inspection identifies areas of major and minor defects to both footway and carriageway. These areas expressed as a percentage of the total area are downloaded into UKPMS and a condition factor is produced. The condition factor of each individual road enables a technical comparison of all roads in the borough.
Bodies authorised to carry out excavations and reinstatements on the highway
Under the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991, statutory undertakers such as Gas, Water, Electric and Telecommunications are permitted to carry out such works. We can also grant licences to private companies to carry out works once the location; type of works and liability insurance has been agreed.
If you would like further information on the charges for licences and how to apply, please contact:
Streetworks team
Tel: 020 8583 5555
E-mail: streetworks@hounslow.gov.uk.
Annual resurfacing procedure
Once roads are prioritised using the UKPMS system a budget is allocated for planned maintenance. The Highways Team carries out as much planned maintenance as the budget allows in the programme designed by the Area Committees.
Contact us
Highways Maintenance Team
Environment Department
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Tel:020 8583 5555
Fax:020 8583 4913
E-mail: highways@hounslow.gov.uk