Questionnaires
I am aware of two questionnaires that are being circulated that may have a considerable bearing on highways maintenance practices, and in my opinion those of you employed in providing the service should be aware of them, as you may wish to have an involvement.

The details of one questionnaire, relating to accidents involving horse riding on the highway, is to be found on the website of the  British Horse Society.
This initiative may help resolve the question as to whether bituminous mixtures described as stone mastic asphalt (SMA) pose an increased problem with regard to horses slipping while riding on the highway.
It is my opinion that some "ill conceived" statements are being made in relation to this topic that do not take in to account the considerable difference that there can be between bituminous mixtures that come under a broad generic description.
There has been considerable coverage on this issue in engineering journals over the past few years, if you are not aware of the arguments you might like to do some reading.

The second questionnaire I think you should be aware of relates to the possible introduction of a Code of Practice for Thin Surfacing. 
A contract to produce such a document has been awarded to W.S.Atkins and further details can be obtained from the minutes of the meeting of the "Northern Counties Soils and Materials Group" held on the 6th. of October 2004.
A copy of these minutes can be downloaded in .pdf format from the website of the CSS - County Surveyors Society .

I will once again bring to your attention that the CSS has already produced an extremely useful advice note on the use of proprietary thin surfacings, and I recommend its perusal. 

CSS - ENG 1/2003 - Advice note for the specification of Thin Surfacing

As I recall it costs just £10:00 and is available from CSS members at Lincolnshire County Council.

It does note seem unreasonable to me that the proposed Code of Practice should be part of the Guidelines Document for the Approval of Thin Surfacing Systems produced by the British Board of Agrément (BBA). This document being the means by which proprietary Thin Surfacing Systems receive Highway Authority Product Approval (HAPAS). 
As far as I am aware the Guidelines Document is still in draft form seven years after it was introduced. It would not be unreasonable to ask how many of you who are purchasing very large amounts of thin surfacing at substantial cost have seen a draft Guidelines Document and know what it contains.
Perhaps we could bring together the Guideline Document from the BBA, the existing Advice Note from the CSS, and the new work being done for the Code of Practice by W.S.Atkins. 
It follows we might like to involve the British Standards Institute (BSI) and produce a comprehensive British Standard for Thin Surfacing Systems that everybody will adhere to.
Or, we could just use the various bituminous mixture standards that already exist, including ratifying the draft BS EN standards that have not yet been been ratified in the UK. 
Some of these drafts must be close to five years old, the period I understand if exceeded should result in automatic ratification of the particular draft in all European countries.
One last point, if you need examples of what a Code of Practice for Thin Surfacings ought to contain look no further than BS 594, parts one and two, and BS 4987, also both parts, for inspiration.

You will need a knowledgeable Materials Engineer to understand some of the points I raise, not having such a person does not mean you can ignore the items I discuss, these subjects will affect you sooner or later.

Surface dressing
This is just a quick note to bring to your attention to a matter, that by the time you read this the deadline to make comments will probably have passed.
I refer to the publication of Draft EN 12271 - Surface Dressing.
I find this a very comprehensive document covering most aspects of the process of surface dressing, but not the design. Some may say it is too comprehensive. It is well worth a read, and although only draft it is well worth the price of £10:00 (if you are a BSI member) if only for the considerable amount of information it contains relating to the surface dressing process. 
However if you wish to make comments on its content you had better be quick because the closing date for submissions is the 31st. of January.

Motto of the Month
"There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse, it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place."