£80 million new contract for Wiltshire highways begins
The money will be invested over five years
£80 million is to be invested in improving the county’s highways from April 1st as Milestone Infrastructure takes on a new contract from Wiltshire Council.
They are replacing Ringway, who provided the service for the past seven years.
The five-year contract will seek to make our highways more resilient and keep the county moving by maintaining streetlights, cleaning and emptying gullies and drains, repairing potholes, gritting in winter, undertaking emergency maintenance, and maintaining carriageways, footways, bridges and verges.
There is an added focus on reducing carbon emissions, as part of the aim to be net zero by 2030, as well as social value, which will see a dedicated Social Value and Communications Manager engage with disadvantaged groups, including people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and care leavers, who will be offered employment and training opportunities.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport at Wiltshire Council, said:
“This new maintenance contract with Milestone Infrastructure represents a significant investment in our communities. It will help us to keep Wiltshire on the move, while also delivering on our key pledge to be a carbon neutral organisation by 2030.
“Highways maintenance is a key priority for us as a council, because we know how important it is for our residents and local businesses to travel safely and efficiently – be that walking, wheeling, cycling or driving – and we’ll be working closely with Milestone Infrastructure over the coming years to improve the very successful Parish Steward scheme, and invest in social value initiatives that work with and enhance our communities.”
Ringway thanked for work
Wiltshire Council has also thanked Ringway for its efforts over the last seven years.
As well as standard maintenance work on our roads, they've been involved in emergency responses, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Novichok response in Salisbury and Amesbury in 2018, working at short notice to help keep residents and emergency services safe.
Its Parish Stewards have played a key role in communities across Wiltshire, and it has also installed more than 45,000 LED streetlights, which has helped the council’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“As the seven-year Ringway contract comes to a close, I’d like to thank all their staff who have worked so hard on behalf of Wiltshire residents.
“The Ringway crews have helped us to keep Wiltshire moving during periods of extreme weather, rain, shine or snow, and also helped us greatly during challenging times for the county. I’d like to thank them all for their efforts throughout the term of the contract.”
“I know that many Ringway staff will be joining our new contractor Milestone Infrastructure and look forward to their continued support in delivering our Business Plan objectives for Wiltshire.”
Mitesh Solanki, Managing Director, Ringway Infrastructure Services, said:
“Ringway is proud and privileged to have served the council and communities of Wiltshire for the past seven years, and before a short break, it was 14 years prior to that.
“Our teams thoroughly enjoyed keeping highways and byways open for use through any severe weather event that was presented to us, the primary aim being to satisfy all the customers and communities we served.
“We are pleased to be able to leave a legacy of a highly motivated and skilled workforce to assist in our social value drive within Wiltshire.
“We wish Wiltshire and all our transferring employees every success in the future and trust the team will continue to provide an excellent service as they have done to date, with pride.”