'Clear failings' in Bridge Foot changes - report finds (From Warrington Guardian)
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'Clear failings' in Bridge Foot changes - report finds
10:50am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in News
'Clear failings' in Bridge Foot changes - report finds
‘CLEAR failings’ from a number of council services were responsible for the botched lane marking changes at Bridge Foot island, according to a report.
Warrington Borough Council’s chief executive Steven Broomhead published his report into the mess today, Wednesday.
While not blaming any individual officer for the work - which cost £30,000 in total - he says the mistakes ‘must not’ happen again.
The eight page report said senior officers should have got involved earlier to make sure the changes, which initially directed drivers into one lane for four exits, went smoothly.
It says: “It is clear to me that the problems that emerged in this case cannot be laid at the door of one particular officer.
“In my view it has been a collective failure from a number of sources in the service. I do find this surprising as the transport, engineering and operations service area is usually exemplary in the way it communicates and delivers projects.
“However, this case does suggest improvements that should be immediately incorporated into the practice of the service to ensure that this simply does not happen again and its quality assurance systems and decision-making processes are more robust into the future. “I will meet with the officers to ensure that all the learning lessons are taken and applied.”
It also concluded:
- Seniors officers should have told the executive member Clr Linda Dirir and ward members
- Important changes to big roads should have more senior management involvement
- There was a ‘lack of understanding’ in the role of a project manager
- Project management was loose and better communication was needed
- Technical appraisal was ‘minimal’ and did not pick up problems
- Transport officers should avoid ‘tinkering’.
Comments(15)
ChristoB
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11:13am Wed 10 Oct 12
WAFiver
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12:16pm Wed 10 Oct 12
ChristoB wrote:Come on, WBC think ahead? Just wait for everywhere west of Bridge St to Cuerdley to grind to a halt, then listen for the inevitable "Hmmm, we didn't expect this, let's have an enquiry."
I seem to recall there have been one or two previous similar issues around the town requiring remedial costs. Traffic lights at ASDA Westbrook being one example. Time will undoubtedly tell whether lessons actually have been learned! I wonder if they've started thinking about the mayhem which will result from tolls on the Widnes bridges?
Gorsedd
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3:55pm Wed 10 Oct 12
A_LOCAL wrote:Within the small print we get: "to ensure that all the learning lessons are taken and applied.” So the get out of jail free card has worked its magic again.
After reading the above I was very surprised not to find that over used statement "lessons have been learned" that seems to be the "get out of jail free card" for these people and its usage appears to be widespread amongst the NHS, Police Forces and many more public service organizations, almost justifying the wrong doing.
Nonetheless the report does acknowledge deficiencies and that at least is a plus to counter the many minuses to which we have become accustomed. I do not go along with spreading liability so thinly that it is difficult to identify responsibility. Although it is not a sacking office, everyone can make a mistake - it is the covering up of them that is unacceptable - someone took the decision to go ahead with the scheme warts and all. I very much doubt it was a collective decision, if it was the Council's procedures need a serious looking at.
HuffPuff
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5:14pm Wed 10 Oct 12
old-codger
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7:24pm Wed 10 Oct 12
Council tax payers foot the bill for stupid mistakes..
Knowmenot
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9:52pm Wed 10 Oct 12
warrington_biker
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10:49pm Wed 10 Oct 12
So, who is getting sacked?
Nick Tessla
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9:44am Thu 11 Oct 12
grey_man
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10:12am Thu 11 Oct 12
Council officers are paid well to take responsibility. Some of them are paid far too much in my opinion. In a private company if somebody is earning over £100,000 a year, that pays for the buck to stop with them and it's about time the same happened in the public sector.
The council will never sort out its problem while they refuse to make people accountable for the decisions they take. This was obviously a mistake based on a completely stupid decision but people have got away with breaking the law and covering up for serious acts that would have them walked out of the door in any other organisation. Not least when the council is busy withdrawing front line services and making dedicated staff redundant to pay for these kinds of **** ups.
Councillors should be pushing to find out who signed this off. The buck stops with that person, who is presumably well paid to make decisions and take the credit when they work out and take the rap when they don't.
Until we have that mindset in the council, the mistakes, the lies, the law breaking, the corruption and the now habitual failure to serve the people of Warrington will continue.
ChristoB
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11:32am Thu 11 Oct 12
MikeJT
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11:57am Thu 11 Oct 12
Wires2012
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4:14pm Thu 11 Oct 12
I am sure that everyone who uses Bridgefoot daily, would be more than happy to name and shame the person(s) who made the mistake and SACK them.
DO THE RIGHT THING BROOMHEAD
SM2012
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4:11pm Fri 12 Oct 12
"Project management was loose and better communication was needed "
I wonder if this particular PM is brave enough to come forward and explain what happened.
R2D2
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5:58pm Mon 15 Oct 12
The traffic now runs much more freely; better than even before. But still the lane leading to Mersey St has hardly any traffic in it; proving most traffic from that direction is going South. Anyone who used the junction regularly could have told them that.
A_LOCAL says...
11:06am Wed 10 Oct 12