Buckinghamshire Highways Resilient Network Plan 2025

The Resilience Service are subject matter experts in emergency management and business continuity management. Resilience Service Officers can be deployed to any emergency incident in their capacity as Tactical Advisor at a strategic, tactical or operational level as a resource to assist and support Incident Managers with their decision making.

Buckinghamshire Highways’ incident management and wider resilience activities fit into the variety of plans and procedures developed and maintained by the Resilience Service.

In partnership with Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) we have introduced a state-of-the-art Operational Control Hub (OCH) to support a data-driven approach to decision-making and resilience planning. The OCH uses the latest in innovative technologies and systems to provide a single source of visibility to monitor all activities in real-time, track progress of works and enable data-driven decision making to drive further efficiencies across the network. Since its launch, we have seen an increase in productivity in our reactive works by 120%.

Buckinghamshire Highways has also significantly increased its capital investment in drainage infrastructure to strengthen the network’s resilience against flooding. One of the key actions underpinning this commitment is the cleansing of all 85,000 roadside gullies across our network, on a regular basis.

Buckinghamshire Highways understands the importance of keeping residents and road users informed during severe weather events and periods of disruption. Clear, timely updates help people stay safe and plan ahead. We share all necessary information on our responses to disruptions, road conditions, closures, and safety advice through the council website and social media channels. Residents are also encouraged to report issues such as flooding, fallen trees, or road damage using tools such as FixMyStreet or engaging through the council's various communication channels, helping the council to respond quickly and effectively.

By combining data, planning, and community engagement, the council is working to ensure that Buckinghamshire’s roads remain safe, reliable, and resilient in the face of a changing climate.

The Winter Period is from mid-October to the following mid-April, inclusive of each rolling year.

Buckinghamshire Highways’ aim is to ensure that as far as reasonably practicable the Primary (precautionary) salting network is kept free of ice, and both the Primary and Secondary networks are clear of settled snow beyond a depth of 20mm.

Weather conditions may require ice and snow clearance being prioritised across Buckinghamshire.

Prior to the start of the winter period, a pre-season meeting will be held to ensure any learning from the previous winter season is incorporated into the Winter Service Plan. On completion of each winter period and following any snow event, review meetings will be held to determine improvements which may be implemented.

You can check to see which roads are gritted online.

Lead Local Flood Authority

There is no single organisation responsible for all flood matters in local areas, however Buckinghamshire Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The LLFA is responsible for the coordination of ‘local’ flood risk management and is required to work with Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) to enable effective, joined-up responses to local flooding.

It is worth noting that LLFAs are not first responders to a flood event but do lead on the management of risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. No single organisation has overall responsibility for operational flood response.

Buckinghamshire Council coordinates with a number of RMAs including the Environment Agency, Thames Water, Anglian Water, Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage Board, Buckinghamshire Highways and Resilience services, and riparian landowners.