What are emergency works and why do they happen?
While planned works for Ashbourne Reborn are taking place in the town centre, there is always a chance that emergency works may need to be carried out at the same time. This article explains why that might happen, and how we will work to minimise any disruption.
The works taking place as part of Ashbourne Reborn are being carried out by contractors on behalf of Derbyshire County Council (Highways and Public Realm project) and Ashbourne Methodist Church (Link Community Hub project).
These are planned works and in order to minimise any disruption, the County Council have traffic management plans in place, which include temporary traffic lights, additional signage, and diversions where necessary.
Utility companies - water, electricity, gas, telephone and broadband providers – have a legal right to carry out repairs to existing equipment or to put in new infrastructure. They all must apply to the County Council, as the highways authority, for permission to carry out the work. However, when emergencies happen, such as burst water pipes, gas leaks or severed cables, the County Council has to allow the work to be carried out immediately. This may cause unforeseen disruption to traffic.
If emergency works take place at the same time as works for Ashbourne Reborn, we will publish updates on the Ashbourne Reborn website, social media and newsletter to let you know:
- who is carrying out the works, where, and why they are necessary,
- any additional traffic management measures that will be put in place because of the emergency works, and
- how long we expect the emergency works to take.
If you have concerns about how the traffic is being managed as part of Ashbourne Reborn, for example if temporary lights are not working properly or diversions are unclear, you can contact us by email
Find out more about the responsibility for roadworks around the county at Derbyshire County Council website: Roadworks Responsibility article
