11. Operational Communications
11.1 Vehicle / Duty Supervisor / Depot Communications
Winter maintenance vehicles are provided with a cellular telephone, such that contact may be maintained with the Duty Supervisor or depot at all times. When it is considered safe to do so, manning of vehicles fitted with effective communications facilities, will be limited to the driver only.
The fleet of 32nr frontline, route specifically allocated and other back-up, winter maintenance vehicles are fitted with satellite tracking and data- logging equipment, provided by UK telematics Ltd. Vehicles can be monitored through web access in real time during operations and their actions are recorded and archived for future reference. One other private contractor owned vehicle is employed on pre-treatment operations on the Isle of Jura where in-house resources are limited.
Throughout the period of winter standby, the Operations Manager will ensure that staff are available to receive calls from the Police and other appropriate agencies. Call out rotas will be provided to the Operations Manager, adjacent authorities, management agents and the Police.
11.2 Communications with Police Scotland, Roads Policing Section
It is important that the strong partnership, formed with the Police, is maintained. Information relating to severe weather conditions will be communicated to the Police at the earliest possible opportunity. The Duty Manager will consult fully with the Police when it becomes necessary to arrange road closures and when there is a need to move abandoned vehicles.
The “out of hours” emergency rota will be issued to the Police by the Operations Manager. This will be confirmed to the Police Area Control Room at Helen Street, Glasgow on the Friday start to each weekly duty shift.
The Duty Manager will arrange for the daily action plan to be e-mailed to the four main local Police offices each day. This will also include a confirmation of the Area Supervisors’ and Duty Manager’s out of hours contact telephone numbers.
The Duty Manager will take due regard of all reports received from the Police, concerning dangerous road conditions and give consideration to them, in line with the Council Policy, in deciding the action to be taken.
11.3 Communications with other Agencies and Motoring Organisations
BEAR Scotland, the North West Trunk Roads term contract operator will be sent the daily action plan and out of hours contact information, each day throughout the winter period.
The Duty Manager will inform Glasgow City Council ; Roads and Lighting Faults Call Centre , R.A.L.F. , of the out of hours contact numbers for the following weeks shift and any amendments necessary thereafter. Contacts with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service, control rooms are included in this transmittal process.
The Winter Manager will inform Traffic Scotland when severe weather conditions are causing delays to traffic movement.
11.4 Communications with the Public
The Winter Manager will post details of the 24hour winter treatment plan each day no later than 1400hrs on the winter maintenance page of the council website.
Enquiries from the public will normally be dealt with by the Customer Access Centre during normal working hours.
Consideration will be given to the placing of warning signs, alerting drivers to the possibility that road surface hazards may develop outwith treatment times will be placed at the interface of Priority 1 to Priority 2 & 3 routes
Pre-treatment routes booklets and the updated interactive map is published on the Council Website. Leaflets explaining the extent of treatment routes, their priority and hours of operation and other seasonal advice for travellers, will be prepared and where necessary updated, in advance of each season. These will be distributed by electronic means through the Council webpage and are available for the public to download and print off as necessary.
The Winter Manager will ensure that any disruption to the network is reported through the internal service disruption noticeboard on the council website.
11.5 Media
National radio, television and national press enquiries should be dealt with by the Executive Director or the Head of Service or through the Council’s Press and Media Relations Office.
Local radio and press should be dealt with by the Head of Service or by the Operations or Network & Standards Manager.
The Head of Service, Operations or Network & Standards Manager will be advised as soon as practicable if conditions deteriorate such that major routes have to be closed.
