A new initiative is hitting Oxfordshire’s roads with a more agile, community-focused approach to maintenance and improvement.
Oxfordshire County Council, working with its principal highways contractor M Group, has launched Highways Asset Response Teams (HARTs) to tackle minor repairs, cleaning, and essential maintenance in areas that need it most.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said:
“Following concerns raised by our communities in relation to highway improvements and maintenance, we’re taking a more proactive approach. This initiative strengthens our collaboration with local communities.
“These teams are equipped to deliver on-the-ground remedial work, addressing issues more quickly. By being present and responsive within the community, we’re not just maintaining infrastructure, we’re building trust, improving safety, and ensuring that local concerns are acted on swiftly and effectively.”
HARTs are responsible for a wide range of practical work, including cleaning street signs, removing damaged railings, clearing vegetation, fixing uneven pavements and kerbstones, repairing potholes, and removing illegal posters or redundant barriers.
In their first 10 weeks, the teams have achieved impressive results — clearing vegetation from 313 sites, cleaning 213 signs, removing 63 illegal signs or posters, repairing 128 potholes, fixing 17 footpaths, and completing 87 other maintenance tasks such as tidying and barrier installations.
Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director, added:
“We know that seemingly minor issues like dirty signs or overgrown hedges can have a real impact on how people experience their local area. Deploying these teams allows us to deliver fast, visible improvements that residents truly notice. Results so far have been outstanding, and the feedback from communities has been fantastic.”
Areas recently visited include Bicester, Banbury, Witney, Abingdon, Didcot, Wantage, and Grove. Locations are chosen based on Fix My Street reports, engagement with town and parish councils, and areas where temporary safety measures have previously been installed.
The council encourages residents to continue reporting issues through the Fix My Street platform, ensuring the HARTs can target the right locations effectively.
Councillor Gant concluded:
“This evolving partnership is about focusing resources where they’re most needed, ensuring timely and visible improvements that matter to residents.”
