South Drive, Noble's Hospital
| Authority | Manx Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2024-01-16 |
| Outcome | All information sent |
| Outcome date | 2024-05-28 |
| Case ID | 3618993 |
Summary
The requester asked for maintenance budgets, road safety responsibilities, and inspection reports for South Drive at Noble's Hospital, specifically regarding tree clearance and adherence to road standards. Manx Care disclosed that the road is unadopted, budget data cannot be broken down by specific road, and no tree surveys have occurred since October 2023, while clarifying that national road standards do not apply to the site.
Key Facts
- South Drive is an unadopted road and not designated as a public highway.
- Maintenance budgets are held by the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and cannot be broken down for specific roads.
- Tree surveys are conducted annually, but no surveys or works have been carried out since 24 October 2023.
- Trees are pruned to allow double-decker bus clearance for the TT and Manx Grand Prix.
- The GN-00-019 'Manual for Manx Roads' standards do not apply to existing unadopted roads like South Drive.
Data Disclosed
- 2024-01-16
- 2024-05-28
- 2018
- 24 October 2023
- 3618993
- GN-00-019
Original Request
What responsibility does Manx Care have for the maintenance of South Drive on the Noble's Hospital Estate, what is the job title of the individual with overall responsibility for road safety on the Estate and how many individuals with similar responsibilities report to that individual? What was (a) the annual budget and (b) the actual expenditure for the maintenance of (1) Noble's Hospital estate roads in general and (2) South Drive in particular for each of the years 2018 to date. What inspections on overhanging trees and pedestrian safety have been carried out on South Drive on or since 24 October 2023, what were the conclusions and recommendations, what actions were taken and when were they undertaken, are any more actions planned and what are their likely timescales? Please provide copies of such reports. What is its legal status, for example is it a public highway? To what standards is it maintained? Do those standards make reference to GN-00-019 'Manual for Manx Roads?' Did South Drive meet the standards in GN-00-019 in particular regard to minimum vertical clearance on 24 October 2023?
Data Tables (4)
| The | budget for | maintenance | of the site and its gr | ounds is held by the | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manx | Care do a | lso carry out s | ome works on the s | ite. The budget is an | overall one | an | |
| it is | no | t possibl | e to break it do | wn to provide an in | dividual budget or ex | penditure | |
| either | the road | s on the site in | general or South D |
| Tre | e s | urveys o | n the site are c | arried out annually | and any tree mainten | ance / removal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| is u | ndertaken i | n line with DEF | A guidance. Trees a | re pruned annually t | ||
| sufficient for do | uble-decker b | us clearance, as this | is a requirement of t | he site one-wa | ||
| system | which i | s implemented | during TT and Man | x Grand Prix. There h | ave been no | |
| suc | h s | urveys or | works carried | out since 24th Octo | ber 2023. Issues in r | |
| pedestrian safe | ty would be m | onitored by Manx C | are as the user of the | site. It should | ||
| be | noted that t | here is no ped | estrian footpath on | South Drive as pedes | trian access | |
| the | Hospital sit | e is via the ma |
| The | roads arou | nd the site are | unadopted – i.e. no | t designated as publ | ic highways | an | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| as | suc | h are not | subject to the | standards listed. In | stead maintenance is | carried out | as |
| agreed | betwee | n the DOI, DH | SC and Manx Care in | terms of the fitness | for the purpos | ||
| of | moving traffi | c into and aro |
| Wit | h r | eference | to minimal ver | tical clearance, it sh | ould also be noted th | at the standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| quoted | refer to | new or adopte | d roads under cons | truction, not existing, | unadopted | |
| roads | and as su | ch would not | apply to South Drive |
Full Response Text
Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000
Our ref: 3618993 23 May 2024
Dear ###
We write further to your request, received 16 January 2024, which states:
"What responsibility does Manx Care have for the maintenance of South Drive on the Noble's Hospital Estate, what is the job title of the individual with overall responsibility for road safety on the Estate and how many individuals with similar responsibilities report to that individual?
What was
(a) the annual budget and
(b) the actual expenditure
for the maintenance of
(1) Noble's Hospital estate roads in general and
(2) South Drive in particular
for each of the years 2018 to date.
What inspections on overhanging trees and pedestrian safety have been carried out on South Drive on or since 24 October 2023, what were the conclusions and recommendations, what actions were taken and when were they undertaken, are any more actions planned and what are their likely timescales? Please provide copies of such reports.
What is its legal status, for example is it a public highway?
To what standards is it maintained?
Do those standards make reference to GN-00-019 'Manual for Manx Roads?'
Did South Drive meet the standards in GN-00-019 in particular regard to minimum vertical clearance on 24 October 2023?"
Our response to your request is as follows:
The budget for maintenance of the site and its grounds is held by the DOI, although
Manx Care do also carry out some works on the site. The budget is an overall one and
it is not possible to break it down to provide an individual budget or expenditure for
either the roads on the site in general or South Drive in particular.
Tree surveys on the site are carried out annually and any tree maintenance / removal
is undertaken in line with DEFA guidance. Trees are pruned annually to a height
sufficient for double-decker bus clearance, as this is a requirement of the site one-way
system which is implemented during TT and Manx Grand Prix. There have been no
such surveys or works carried out since 24th October 2023. Issues in relation to
pedestrian safety would be monitored by Manx Care as the user of the site. It should
be noted that there is no pedestrian footpath on South Drive as pedestrian access to
the Hospital site is via the main drive.
The roads around the site are unadopted – i.e. not designated as public highways and
as such are not subject to the standards listed. Instead maintenance is carried out as
agreed between the DOI, DHSC and Manx Care in terms of the fitness for the purpose
of moving traffic into and around the site.
With reference to minimal vertical clearance, it should also be noted that the standards
quoted refer to new or adopted roads under construction, not existing, unadopted
roads and as such would not apply to South Drive.
Please quote the reference number 3618993 in any future communications.
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