00:00Alongside Snake Pass we've got over 200 landslips just in Derbyshire that we're trying to manage
00:05at varying scales so that's a massive challenge in itself but then on top of that we obviously
00:11have our wider highway network and maintaining the wider highway network again with the challenging
00:16geology which Snake is the perfect example of what a lot of our highway network punches through
00:23so to me I think that Derbyshire does have an exceptional case for increased funding.
00:30So what are some of the upcoming works that you've got to the route?
00:38We're just about to do some cosmetic repairs if you like to get rid of some of the restrictions
00:44so we've got Gilet Hay here which is restricted to one way in traffic lights we're coming in a
00:49couple of weeks time to resurface that side reinforce the road a little bit so that we can
00:54get rid of this restriction a similar operation just up at Wood Cottage where the wood houses
01:00slip is there's some undulations in the road there where we'll be excavating out and smoothing
01:05it through making it a much safer passage for the traveling public. What can you tell me about
01:11some of the long-term potential projects to the routes? I think that in terms of longer-term
01:18fixes to some of the more major landslips particularly the Old Port one where obviously
01:24a significant portion of the carriageway is gone they are really significant expenditure in terms
01:30of projects as a county council we don't have a landslip budget in terms of nationally the
01:39amount of landslips that we're facing so it's something that would require for longer term
01:44more permanent repairs there'd be major engineering solutions so it would be something that
01:49would require more significant and specific either government or regional funding which is what we're
01:55we're also making the case for obviously this is a strategic route it's used by a lot of residents
02:01and businesses so we are making the case to both the mayor and the central government to highlight
02:07the need for a specific sort of fund to be able to keep this route going. Do you think there's an
02:11argument to be made that the route ought to be closed off or should be closed off in the future?
02:17I don't think from the county council's perspective I don't think we would we would ever look to
02:22consciously close the route the only time we would have to consider something like that is if there
02:27was a further major landslip or major ground movement that meant any sort of engineering
02:33solution or major engineering solution wasn't immediately possible because it was so significant
02:39that it had wiped out the road in action. What can you tell me about some of the kind of road safety concerns of the route itself?
02:49Well the Snake Pass is a historic route and it winds its way through and up and over the valley
02:55and unfortunately there have been some fatalities on Snake Pass so we do look at every intervention
03:00we can from a safety perspective and again we are dependent on the government here around
03:07additional help from what they call the safer roads fund so that would be
03:11a good intervention if that was to come to pass. Would you say there's somewhat of a I guess
03:15political challenge of trying to make sure that Derbyshire gets the money it needs for this
03:21slip but obviously it's not disproportionate to the amount of money that is available UK wide
03:26to look after other highways issues? I think that you know in Derbyshire ultimately we represent
03:33Derbyshire, I represent Derbyshire so that's the priority for me and it's to make the case both
03:37regionally and to the you know countrywide for Derbyshire because that's what matters for our
03:44residents and I think you know in Derbyshire we've got a pretty unique situation. Inside Snake Pass
03:51we've got over 200 landslips just in Derbyshire that we're trying to manage at varying scales
03:57so that's a massive challenge in itself but then on top of that we obviously have our wider highway
04:02network and maintaining the wider highway network again with the challenging geology
04:07which Snake is the perfect example of what a lot of our highway network punches through
04:13so to me I think that Derbyshire does have an exceptional case for increased funding and we do
04:19also, which isn't discussed or highlighted at this point, we do also have quite a lot of funds that
04:24provide a lot of essential materials both countrywide but we then also obviously have to
04:30keep a road network going forward which does also mean that we need a sustainable road network
04:36in Derbyshire so that's the other sort of factor for me that I think highlights
04:40why Derbyshire should be a special case for investment.
Comments