Residents in Church Preen, Hughley, and Kenley are beginning a new community-led initiative to take direct action on local road maintenance. Shropshire Council has partnered with the local parish council to pilot a ‘road warden’ scheme, empowering trained volunteers to manage minor highway tasks and improve the safety of rural lanes.
Permitted tasks and volunteer responsibilities
The pilot enables volunteers to carry out specific, low-risk maintenance activities that often face delays when managed at a county level. A primary focus of the group is to ‘get the water off the roads’ by clearing ditches and drains. This preventative measure is designed to stop water from sitting on road surfaces, which is a leading cause of pothole formation during winter months.
| Approved Volunteer Activities | Prohibited Actions & Tools |
|---|---|
| Litter picking and sign cleaning | Working on live carriageways |
| Minor vegetation and leaf clearance | Use of power tools |
| Small pothole repairs on quiet roads | Working at height |
| Clearing muddy ditches and drains | Unauthorized heavy machinery |
Safety protocols and council oversight
To ensure the scheme operates safely, all activity is managed under a robust governance framework based on the successful Devon Road Warden Scheme. Volunteers have undergone specific training and are required to wear mandatory personal protective equipment (PPE). Shropshire Council continues to provide technical guidance, oversight, and professional backup for tasks beyond the scope of the wardens, such as clearing major drainage blockages.
Richard Roycroft, chair of Church Preen, Hughley & Kenley Parish Council, noted that nearly 40 residents attended the initial volunteer meeting. The group identified priorities through lane-by-lane surveys, focusing on areas where visitors have previously incurred wheel damage or where local businesses have been impacted by deteriorating road surfaces.
Strengthening local infrastructure partnerships
This pilot aims to foster a more responsive relationship between the community and Shropshire Council. By tackling minor issues quickly, the council can focus its resources on larger, safety-critical highway repairs. Chris Naylor, Shropshire Councillor for Burnell, confirmed that the council has provided the necessary kits and signage to support the new wardens.
Success of the Church Preen pilot will be monitored through response times and resident feedback. If the results are positive, Shropshire Council may look to expand the road warden model to other parishes across the county. Residents should continue to report major highway defects through the standard Shropshire Council reporting channels.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
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