Road Warden Scheme: MS10 Ploughing & Siding Out

Method Statement 10: Ploughing and Siding Out

1. Introduction and definitions

Siding Out

What’s involved: Cutting back the verge and scraping off the built-up material so the original road edge is visible again.

Purpose: To restore the full width of the carriageway by removing soil, turf, and vegetation that has encroached from the verge onto the road surface.

Why it matters: Over time, grass verges and soil creep inward, narrowing the usable road width and trapping water at the edge. This can:

  • Reduce safety (vehicles have less space to pass)
  • Cause drainage problems, leading to potholes and surface damage.

Ploughing

  • Purpose: To clear accumulated mud, silt, or debris from roadside grips (shallow drainage channels) or sometimes from the road edge itself.
  • Why it matters: These grips help water drain off the road into ditches. If they’re blocked, water stays on the carriageway, increasing the risk of flooding and surface deterioration.
  • What’s involved: Using a plough or similar implement to reopen these drainage channels and push material back into the verge or remove it entirely. It’s a winter and wet-weather resilience measure in rural areas.

2. Basic Equipment Required

The following items are intended as a guide only. It is the responsibility of the Road Warden to ensure that all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Traffic Management (TM), tools and equipment are suitable for the job in hand and in good condition. Furthermore, the Road Warden should ensure all volunteers involved are competent with using the tools and equipment provided.

2.a. Personal Protective Equipment

  • Face mask / respirator
  • Gloves
  • Eye protection – goggles / visor
  • Hi-visibility clothing
  • Hard hat
  • Protective boots

2.b.Traffic Management (TM)

Ensure the sufficient TM signs, bollards, and equipment are carried which are appropriate for the task / site. These must be set out in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual and the Safety at Streetworks and Road Works Red Book.

2.c. Tools and Equipment

  • Shovel
  • Rake
  • Stiff broom
  • Stiff hand brush and dustpan
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Edge trimmer
  • Hedge shears
  • Pruning shears
  • Loppers
  • Plastic sheeting – to prevent soil and detritus falling down drains.

    3. Method Statement

    1. Advise the DCC Neighbourhood Highway Officer (NHO) for the area of the proposed work. Agree the locations, method, tools and how the waysoil(1) is to be dealt with.
    2. Carry out and complete the risk assessment. Risk Assessment Template. Ensure that sufficient controls are in place for all identified risks
    3. Set up appropriate traffic management. Refer to the TM flowchart and install the appropriate TM in accordance with Chapter 8 and the Red Book.

    Siding

    1. Remove all soil, detritus, stones, litter, and vegetation from the base of the bank, hedge bank, or verge, to expose the carriageway. The resulting cut face of the hedge bank or verge should be 75mm from the edge of the metalled carriageway and trimmed vertically with a smooth top.
    2. Cut back existing vegetation to a residual length of 100mm over a height of 1 metre measured from the adjacent carriageway surface to obtain access for cleaning at hedge banks.
    3. Take care not to undermine hedges and banks.
    4. Where footway siding is agreed, soil, detritus, stones, litter and vegetation should be removed by hand up to the edge of the metalled footway. The resulting cut face in any turf at the back edge of the footway should be trimmed vertically with a smooth top.
    5. Clear around partially covered gully frames and gratings for a distance of 300mm from each edge of the gully frame. Inform the NHO of any gullies likely to be re-covered by vegetation.
    6. Ensure that all soil arising from operations is removed from the entrances or outfalls of all abutting drainage channels, pipes, ditches, grips and buddle holes. No soil should be left on gully gratings, nor enters gully pots, catchpits, or drainage systems.
    7. The exposed carriageway surface should be swept clean on the same day. The NHO will advise how to dispose of soil, detritus, stones, litter and vegetation.
    8. Clear away all tools and equipment.
    9. Remove all traffic management, being mindful of traffic whilst this is being done.
    10. Take an inventory of signs, bollards, tools, and equipment, to ensure none is left behind.

    Deposition of waysoil(1)

    1. Agree the method of deposition with the NHO. This may not be the same at each location; a separate method must be followed within Dartmoor or Exmoor National Parks.
    2. Soil should be deposited either on a verge or hedge within 3km of its source OR at site specified by the NHO. Care shall be taken not to cover any street furniture or ironwork (e.g. inspection covers) in the verge.
    3. Erect a temporary sign on the site with the wording “Material for Re-use” if storing waysoil on the verge for up to 7 days.
    4. When depositing on verges, spread waysoil to a depth of 50mm (or a maximum of 150mm if the verge is to be strengthened) within 7 days of deposition. The process of spreading of the waysoil to final re-levelling should be undertaken as a continuous straight through process.
    5. Remove all litter and large stones—the NHO will advise how to dispose of these.
    6. Rotavate or otherwise break down the remainder to a fine tilth and re-level. Only waysoil arising from siding, ditching or cleaning operations in accordance with the NHO’s instructions will be permitted to be disposed on verges and hedge banks. Deposition or disposal of any other waysoil or material within the limits of the highway is strictly prohibited.

    (1) Waysoil is soil, dirt and other material lying within the highway boundary, including sediment and silt removed from gullies and drains.

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