Highways Info Re Sibford Gower Road Repairs

At the last meeting of Sibford Gower Parish Council the Clerk was asked to contact Highways to ask why the roads have been completely resurfaced in Sibford Ferris but no action has taken place in Sibford Gower, despite the very poor state of the roads. The response received from Highways was as follows:

‘The works carried out in Sibford Ferris were part of a surface dressing treatment, which is a countywide programme designed to maintain and prolong the life of existing road surfaces. Surface dressing is a preventative maintenance technique that helps seal the road, improve skid resistance, and delay the need for more extensive repairs.

It’s important to note that not all roads are suitable for surface dressing. The suitability of a road for this treatment depends on several factors including its construction, current condition, and usage. In some cases, alternative treatments may be more appropriate to address structural issues or more advanced deterioration.

To help identify and prioritise roads for treatment, we use data from mechanical surface condition surveys, which produce a score based on factors such as overall road condition. This data informs our maintenance planning and helps us determine the most appropriate treatment type and timing.

Looking at our system, we can confirm that roads in Sibford Gower have been surveyed. Based on the condition data including scores, sections of Main Street and nearby Hawkes Lane are currently being considered for treatment in the 2026/27 financial year.

Please note that condition scores for other roads in Sibford Gower and the surrounding area may change over time, as they are regularly updated through our mechanical surface surveys. These scores will help us assess future maintenance programmes accordingly.

We do encourage continued reporting of any specific issues via https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk, which helps ensure that our assessments remain up to date.’

The Clerk asked some additional questions in regards to Colony Road due to it being in particularly poor condition, and what the real term timescales would be when they talk about Main Street and Hawkes Lane being considered for treatment in the 2026/27 financial year. Their response was as follows:

‘Colony Road has been surveyed, and the data suggests that surface dressing may be an appropriate treatment based on the significant length and current condition. This recommendation is still subject to review by the appropriate team before any decision or program year is confirmed.

Regarding the statement: “Based on the condition data including scores, sections of Main Street and nearby Hawkes Lane are currently being considered for treatment in the 2026/27 financial year” – this means that, based on our current assessments, these roads are included in the draft programme for resurfacing during the 2026/27 financial year. I appreciate this does not mean works will take place immediately, but it does indicate that these roads are prioritised for treatment within the 2026/27 programme which falls in line with the new budget from April 2026. Unfortunately, there is still a vast amount of planning necessary for the countywide programmes, therefore I couldn’t give exact timescales at this stage. In the interim of any planned schemes, the roads will continue to be monitored through routine safety inspections, and any urgent defects reported will be addressed promptly through reactive defects regime.

If appropriate, please do advise the community to continue to report any defects via https://fixmystreet.oxfordshire.gov.uk.’