New highways contract

A new six-year contract to maintain the roads and deliver streetscene services across Shropshire started yesterday (Sunday 1 April 2012). 

Ringway was selected as the preferred bidder from a shortlist of five at Shropshire Council’s Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 16 November 2011.  Since this date, they have been working closely together to ensure that the new contract runs smoothly from the very start. 

This contract, which was part of a pioneering shared contract procurement process with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council, will save the council around £600,000 per year on previous arrangements. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for highways maintenance, said:

“I’m delighted that this contract has now started, although we have been working closely with Ringway for some time now to ensure everything is in place for the new contract to begin. 

“Also, by working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to share expertise and resources, this new contract presents us with an additional saving.  This means that it will provide excellent value for money for Shropshire residents.” 

Brian Moss, Regional Director of Ringway, said:

“We are delighted to have won this strategic highway, streetscene and fleet services contract with Shropshire Council and have enjoyed working closely, through the mobilisation period, with Shropshire Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council to develop an effective, efficient and sustainable highway service for each contract.” 

The contract will cover all aspects of highways maintenance, highways improvements, gully emptying, grass cutting, bridges repair and maintenance, streetlighting maintenance and streetscene. 

There is an option to extend the six-year contract for a further four years, subject to the contractor’s high performance.