Church Preen road wardens to fix local lanes in new volunteer pilot
Shropshire Council has partnered with Church Preen, Hughley & Kenley Parish Council to launch a community-led road warden pilot scheme. This initiative allows trained volunteers to take an active role in maintaining local verges, public spaces, and road surfaces. The program aims to address minor highway issues faster while reducing the long-term pressure on council resources.
Volunteer tasks and safety protocols
Under the new framework, volunteers will perform low-risk maintenance tasks that have been identified through lane-by-lane surveys. All participants must undergo specific training and wear mandatory personal protective equipment. The scheme is modeled after a successful long-term project in Devon, ensuring a robust governance structure is in place to manage liability and safety.
| Activity Category | Permitted Tasks |
|---|---|
| Street Scene | Litter picking, sign cleaning, and leaf clearance |
| Vegetation | Minor trimming and clearing of overgrown verges |
| Minor Repairs | Small pothole filling on quiet roads using cold lay materials |
| Drainage | Clearing muddy ditches and muck from drains |
Activities involving power tools, working at height, or operations on live, high-speed carriageways remain strictly prohibited unless specifically authorized by Shropshire Council.
Focus on drainage and pothole prevention
The primary objective for the Church Preen road wardens is to “get the water off the roads.” By clearing blocked ditches and drains, the team aims to prevent water from sitting on road surfaces, which is a leading cause of pothole formation. This preventative work allows Shropshire Council’s professional teams to focus on larger, safety-critical repairs.
Richard Roycroft, chair of Church Preen, Hughley & Kenley Parish Council, noted that nearly 40 residents attended the initial volunteer meeting. The parish has seen significant local concern regarding wheel and tyre damage caused by deteriorating lane surfaces. These volunteers, including local farmers and builders, are now trained to begin practical work immediately.
Partnership between local councils and residents
Shropshire Council provides technical guidance, oversight, and waste collection services for the scheme. While the parish council coordinates the daily activities and insurance, the central highways team remains responsible for major structural work. Residents are still encouraged to report significant safety hazards through the standard Shropshire Council reporting channels.
David Vasmer, Cabinet member for highways, stated that the pilot will be closely monitored to measure its impact on response times and community satisfaction. If successful, the road warden model could be expanded to other parishes across Shropshire. The next phase of this partnership development will be overseen by Alex Wagner, deputy leader of Shropshire Council.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
AI moderation
Portal AI moderator got this signal
Thanks. The comment is now marked for community review and AI moderation scoring.