Wrthi'n llwytho
Gofynnodd y Cynghorydd Karl Lewis gwestiwn ysgrifenedig dilynol am ddosbarthiad graeanu'r B4518 rhwng Tylwch a Llanidloes yn y gaeaf. Atebodd y Cynghorydd Jackie Charlton, Aelod Cabinet dros Bowys Wyrddach, nad oes un tymheredd sy'n sbarduno trin llwybrau cymunedol, na chynhaliwyd asesiad effaith ar gyfer ffyrdd unigol, a bod gaeaf 2026/27 yn mynd i gael ei fonitro. Nid yw'r cofnod yn nodi unrhyw benderfyniad.
Response by the Cabinet Member: Thank you for your follow-up question regarding the winter service classification of the B4518 corridor between Tylwch and Llanidloes. The Council takes road safety seriously across all parts of Powys and I welcome the opportunity to clarify the points you have raised. • When will community routes be gritted? Community treatment routes provide an additional level of winter service during periods of more severe or prolonged winter weather. They are not normally treated for short-duration or isolated winter weather conditions. Community routes may be considered where weather forecasts indicate disruptive weather conditions, or a prolonged period of hazardous conditions, that are likely to have an impact on local communities. Such decisions will be based on forecast severity, duration, geographical extent, available resources and operational priorities. This could include: • several days of freezing temperatures; • consecutive nights of hard frost with little daytime thaw; • road temperatures remaining below freezing during both the day and night; or • snowfall that is expected to settle and cause disruption to community access, or may affect access to essential services. Community routes would not normally be treated by the Council for isolated frost events, light snow flurries that are not expected to settle, or wet weather where road temperatures are forecast to remain above freezing. There is no single temperature or weather condition that automatically triggers treatment of community routes. Each decision is based on the overall weather risk and local conditions at the time. Decisions are made using the latest available weather forecasts (based upon information received from weather stations located across Powys), local road conditions, forecast confidence, previous treatments and the likely impact on communities and available operational resources. As weather conditions can vary across Powys, treatment may differ accordingly. 2. Safety and Risk Assessment In relation to school transport, care services, journeys to work and agricultural access, it is important to note that no road can be guaranteed to remain entirely free of snow and ice during winter conditions, regardless of classification. The Council therefore adopts a risk-based approach to winter maintenance, alongside other measures such as community routes, salt bins, salt heaps, operational monitoring and engagement with service providers and local communities. Regarding risk assessment, the review adopted a risk and evidence-based approach in accordance with national winter service guidance. Roads were assessed and prioritised using the approved Route Criteria and Categorisation, with the outcome of that assessment determining each route's categorisation within the revised winter service network. Given the extent of the county road network (circa 5500km) and the resources available. The Council is unable to routinely treat every route used by school transport, care workers and emergency services and must therefore prioritise treatment using a consistent, risk-based methodology. 3. Equality, Rural Impact and Well-being Considerations The Winter Service Route Criteria and Categorisation was developed through the Council's governance process and in accordance with its statutory duties, including consideration of equality, socio-economic and well-being responsibilities. An impact assessment for the proposal was included within the cabinet decision paper Cyngor Sir Powys County Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Tuesday, 15th July, 2025, 11.00 am However, individual Equality, Rural or Well-being Impact Assessments were not undertaken for specific routes. The impact assessment considered the proposed winter service framework as a whole, rather than individual roads within the network. 4. Review and Reclassification The 2026/27 winter season represents the first operational year under the revised winter service arrangements. Whilst the revised network has been developed through an extensive review process, consultation exercise, member engagement and operational testing programme, the Council recognises that practical experience gained during live winter operations will provide valuable evidence regarding how the arrangements perform in practice. Throughout the winter season officers will monitor: • weather events and treatment decisions; • route completion times and operational performance; • customer contact and member feedback; • feedback from local communities and operational staff; • access to key services and community impacts; • school transport and public transport issues; • salt consumption and stock resilience; • incidents, complaints and operational learning; and • locations specifically raised during consultation and member engagement. Operational performance will be reviewed throughout the season and as part of the annual Winter Service review process. The Council recognises that no assessment methodology is static and that future refinements may be appropriate as additional evidence becomes available. The revised arrangements are now being implemented for the 2026/27 winter season, during which their operation and effectiveness will continue to be monitored and reviewed. Any future amendment to the assessment criteria, route hierarchy or service standards would be subject to appropriate governance arrangements and, where required, Cabinet approval. As part of the review of winter service arrangements, roads were assessed using a consistent, transparent and evidence-led approach. A range of factors were considered, including traffic levels, public transport links, access routes serving schools, healthcare facilities, emergency services and other important community services. Public engagement and consultation with local members also formed part of the review. The classification of the B4518 as a Community Route is therefore not a decision specific to this road alone, but the outcome of applying a county-wide assessment methodology and policy framework used across the Powys highway network. As with all aspects of the Winter Service Network, the Council will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the arrangements and consider any evidence of material change as part of future policy reviews.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Dyw'r cyngor ddim wedi cofnodi presenoldeb ar gyfer y cyfarfod hwn.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.