Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Highways Inspections

Our "Zonal Inspection" Regime works on a six monthly programme, with the borough split into six geographical areas. Inspections are carried out twice each year to every adopted highway and local authority asset.

A team of Asset Inspectors walk every adopted street in the Borough carrying out a detailed inspection to identify any faults. In total, the team cover over 900 miles of highways roads and footpaths each year which also include the inspection of parks and open spaces.

In addition to this we also have a Play Area Inspector who inspects the play areas and MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) sites in parks and on open spaces. He presently inspects 31 play areas and 17 MUGA sites weekly.

These inspections are necessary to monitor the condition of the roads, footpaths and play areas so that any necessary repairs can be identified and treated.

During inspection an officer determines the necessary corrective action according to specific "intervention levels" as set out in national policies.

Where a fault is noted, our Care for Your Area (Highways) team respond and repair the defect within set timescales of 28 days, 10 days or where a fault is deemed as an immediate risk to users we will respond and made safe within either 2 hours or 24 hours as deemed necessary.

In addition to the zonal inspections we inspect areas which are deemed priority areas, such as shopping areas and rural routes and these are identified and included in an additional monthly inspection regime, ensuring that people's needs are met and that potential problem areas across the borough are targeted to help reduce accidents.

This approach has proven so successful that the authority has been able to successfully defend an increasing number of accident claims.

In addition to the routine inspections, we respond to a number of Service Requests from members of the public.

Since April 2004 all identified faults, which required a repair, were completed within the nationally set timescales.

If you see any defects then please let us know via our on-line service request form, or alternatively telephone or email the Care for Your Area Team.