Happy New Year.

Thanks to everyone for their extra efforts during what has been a very difficult December.

We have received numerous compliments for the level of service provided and once again Worcestershire is recognised as delivering a superlative service.

Everyone is important in delivering the service in particular all the drivers, who as ever have been exceptional, and operational staff and County staff who have to carry out their duties in hazardous conditions on untreated roads. However, for once, I would like to single out our staff at the workshops at Warndon who often get forgotten about. During these snowy conditions they have worked into the night to maintain the gritters and repair the snowploughs that inevitably get damaged during snow ploughing, a big thanks for all their efforts.

So Happy New Year and lets look forward to making 2011 another exceptional year.

Christmas Carbon Crackdown Competition.

Please have a go at the competition. There are two categories to enter,

innovative ideas

aesthetic images

Closing date 17th December - good luck.

Christmas Carbon Crackdown.

Today, December 1st 2010 signifies the start of our Christmas Carbon Crackdown, our second such carbon reduction awareness campaign.
Throughout the month we will be running a series of fun initiatives with the very serious message detailing the need for everyone to think about carbon reduction.
Please contribute, please take part in the quizzes, competitions etc.
More details available from Danielle at Lydiate Ash.

Worcestershire Highways EFQM assessment.

As most of you will know last week we had our annual EFQM assessment. The lead assessor Tony Baker asked me to pass on to all, thanks for the courtesy extended to him and to his team at the depots and Highways House.

The feedback I received from Tony was very positive and we expect to receive his report in two weeks. Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Film stars for the day.

Last week we took part in the production of an industry awareness film to promote excavating safety on site. The film crew visited several locations with the minimum of disruption thanks to the organising by Chris Dovey and Kevin Anderson. The film makers would like to pass on their thanks to everyone that took part.

Film stars for the day.

Last week we took part in an industry awareness film to demonstrate safe digging practices on site. Thanks to all who took part and to Chris Dovey and Kevin Anderson who helped the day go like clockwork.

Wayne Collins fundraising for muscular dystrophy.

Wayne Collins, based at Hinton has formed a fund raising group to raise money for research into muscular dystrophy following his son Harvey contracting the disease last year. Ringway have made a donation to help Wayne and his family in their fund raising efforts. Details of the families fund raising events can be obtained by contacting gaynor60@yahoo.com .

Wayne

Worcestershire "Wear it pink day"

On Friday there was fierce competion between Lydiate Ash and Highways House to see who could raise the most. Lydiate won the battle raising more than £100 with Highways House raising £80, donations still welcome.

Awards For Ringway / Worcestershire Highways

On Thursday 21st October RIS Worcestershire picked up 10 awards, including 4 first place prizes at the Ringway Innovation Awards held at Mercedes Benz World in Surrey.

The First place prizes were for the Low Carbon Christmas Campaign, Drainman, Composite Sam traffic management sign and the customer perception blog.

Later in the day at the prestigious British Quality Foundation Awards we won the award for Process Improvement. There was stiff competition for this award, as other entrant included Virgin, TNT and the Royal Bank Of Scotland.

September "Near-miss" awards.

In September Phil Leonard and Eddie Petrusevicius both receive the award for the best/most appropriate near miss report. They both reported problems encountered with a new type of barrier used on the contract. Following their near miss reports we have taken actions to solve the problems.

By reporting near misses we are able to prevent incidents occurring that could result in injury.

The Cricket Match.

On Thursday 2nd September a tiitanic struggle took place at Pershore Cricket Ground between two finely honed teams of athletes representing Worcestershire County Council and Ringway.

The winner was Worcestershire Highways.

Notable performances included two fine efforts from the junior members of the teams, Masters Pickett and Hobbs, some lusty hitting from Gary Cartwright who damaged a local house roof during his innings, but most notable of all was the fantastic array of food provided afterwards by the WCC gourmet lady chefs.

Ringway v WCC Cricket match.

Undaunted by the monsoon season we have arranged another cricket match, this time in September when the weather will be fine.

Tom Roberts retires after 40 years.

We would like to wish Tom Roberts a long and happy retirement. Tom made a speech and received thanks from his workmates and was presented with a present and a bouquet for his wife.

On the same day we welcome our three new highway maintenance trainees Sam Golding, Luke Williams and Sam Fletcher. We wish them a long and successful careers with Ringway.

WCC V Ringway Cricket Match.

Just a reminder to everyone that the annual WCC versus Ringway cricket match will be taking place at Kempsey Cricket Club on Thursday August 19th starting at 6.15pm. Spectators are more than welcome and there will be food and refreshments provided afterwards at The Anchor Inn. Any one who is interested in playing contact Laura.

Worcestershire trainee and apprentice day.

The Ringway trainee and apprentice get together in Worcestershire was very positive with feedback provided on what works well and areas that can be improved.

During the last two years we have recruited nine trainees and very favourable comments were made about the standard of training and the mentoring system.

We are looking to recruit four highway maintenance apprentices this year anyone interested please let your supervisor or Hughie Walsh know.

Reporting of near misses.

A near miss is an incident that does not result in an injury.

We need to improve our near miss reporting in Worcestershire and in an effort to raise the number of reports we get every month we are offering a reward every month for the best near miss we receive.

The reward for June goes to Juan Ortiz for his near miss report regarding vehicles not following the rules when leaving depots. Warndon, Stanford, Newlands and Lydiate Ash all operate with a "left turn only" rule when leaving the depots.

Welcome to Jatinder Singh (Jay)

We would like to welcome Jatinder to Worcestershire Highways. Jay takes up the position of Target Price Estimator and has recently graduated from Nottingham University where he studied Quantity Surveying.

Jay is from Leicester and has relatives that live locally, he is also a Liverpool fan but we wont hold that against him.

Worcestershire Highways win the CIHT "Effective Partnership" award.

Last Wednesday at the CIHT awards, held at Lords cricket ground, Worcestershire Highways won the effective partnership award, beating off stiff competition from thirteen other entries. The judges gave particular praise for the way that Worcestershire has delivered a value for money service and a high level of customer satisfaction.

Ringway Worcestershire "LEAN and GREEN" initiative.

During June and July we will be launching our "LEAN and GREEN" initiative here in Worcestershire.
The LEAN aspect of the initiative will entail a Lean review of our administration processes followed by a LEAN review looking at the way we carry out footway works.
As part of our GREEN initiative we are discouraging the use of printing and asking that meetings are arranged with economy in mind. At the end of the month we will be launching our new fuel measures, initially looking at company cars. The measures will detail amounts of fuel used and the miles per gallon obtained for each vehicle and driver. We will be looking to reduce our fuel usage which is the fourth largest contributor to our carbon footprint here in Worcestershire.

Ringway Staff Recognition Award.

At the last round of staff briefings held throughout Worcestershire you all voted for your candidates that should receive a prize to reward their efforts during the last three months. Pictured here are the winners Des Dalloway, Richard Tustin and Steve Winters.

Thanks to everyone for taking part.

Staff Recognition Award

Following the recent staff briefings held throughout Worcestershire you all voted for the candidates for the staff recognition award. The winners are Des Dalloway, Richard Tustin and Steve Winters who are pictures here receiving their prizes. Thanks to everyone for voting.

Worcestershire Ecodyn Survey

If you see this odd looking vehicle driving close to the centre of the road it is the Euromark ecodyn survey vehicle. We are carrying out a survey of all the counties road markings to check the reflectivity. When completed we will cost the work needed to bring all the lining to the required standard and then provide an annual price to maintain the lines at that standard.

Definitely not the way to liase with the public.

This is not a new mobile traffic management technique or a way of communicating with the public.

Worcestershire Highways "Safe Dig Charter"

May sees the launch of the Worcestershire Highways "Safe Dig Charter". The charter has been developed by the Workers Forums and is intended to stop the rising trend in cable strikes. During the month we will be also conducting training courses, trialling new cable detection, carrying out tool box talks and sending out to everyone safe dig text messages.

Start of the grass cutting season.

This year Ringway are carrying out all the rural grass cutting in Worcestershire. The works are to be supervised by Chris Walsh and we have set up two teams to manage safety around the works. Yesterday we made a prompt start making the best of the fine weather.

Start of the grass cutting season.

This year Ringway are carrying out all the rural grass cutting works in Worcestershire. Yesterday saw the start of the grass cutting season and the works will be supervised by Chris Walsh. We have set up two traffic management to control safety around the grass cutting works and from the photos you can see that they are already making the best of the fine weather.

Worcestershire Highways Innovation Day.

On Wednesday we held an innovation day in Worcestershire and were pleased to welcome not only many visitors from our partners WCC, but also from Staffs County Council, Halcrow, Walsall Met. Borough Council, Tarmac and Nu-Phalt.

We visited three live sites to see demonstrations of infa red patching, the viaseal process and a large scale all in one surface dressing machine.

Surface Dressing works in Worcestershire.

Ringway started surface dressing in Worcestershire last Monday and to date has been blessed with fine weather and progress has been excellent. Yesterday the gang were in Whittington and from the photos we can appreciate some of the problems they have to deal with on a daily basis caused by parked cars.

Lets hope the good weather continues.

Kevin Anderson receives Worcestershire Highways award.

WORCESTERSHIRE HIGHWAYS STAFF RECOGNITION AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
Spring 2010


The award is for outstanding achievement in collaborative working and is given to members of staff who go beyond the day-to-day when working with other partner organisations to deliver our service.

The award is given quarterly to members of staff or teams from any organisation across Worcestershire Highways (comprising WCC and its partner contractors: Prysmian Cables Ltd, Halcrow, Ringway Infrastructure Services, Peek Traffic, VolkerFitzpatrick and Alun Griffiths Contractors.

This quarter the award went to Kevin Anderson from Ringway.

Nick Yarwood, Commercial & Contracts manager presented the award to Kevin at Newlands Depot on 16 April 2010.

Nominations for Kevin included the following comments:

Kevin has worked extremely hard during the adverse weather conditions, he tirelessly put himself out to make sure snowplough/gritting teams have responded with the right equipment at very short notice.

His wealth of knowledge has had a great impact on the correct response to assist the public of Worcestershire, His efforts and work ethic are of a very high standard.

Kevin has worked extremely long hours, but has always remained positive and helpful to any request from the client side. He has shown what a true professional team player is.

This in some ways helps Kevin get over Tottenham getting knocked out the cup.

Pot hole gang broadcast live on BBC Hereford and Worcester

Today BBC Hereford and Worcester interviewed one of our potholing gangs, Fred White and Tim Cooper, live from a site in Worcester. Chris Dovey and Kevin Anderson where also interviewed. The interview will be repeated during the day and the quality of work as demonstrated by the photo represents the excellent service delivered by Worcestershire Highways.

Winner of the Wolves tickets.

The winner of the Wolves tickets is Elissa Witt. Congratulations hope you enjoy the match.

Wolves V Everton - 2 free tickets available.

We have two free tickets for Wolves versus Everton this coming Saturday at Molineux kick off 3.00pm. Anyone interested let me know by 4.00pm tomorrow.