The new six-year contract which began on Sunday is part of a pioneering shared contract procurement process with neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The contract will cover all aspects of highways maintenance, highways improvements, gully emptying, grass cutting, bridges repair and maintenance, streetlighting maintenance and streetscene.

Ringway was selected as the preferred bidder from a shortlist of five at Shropshire Council’s Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 16 November 2011.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for highways maintenance, said:

“I’m delighted that this contract has now started, although we have been working closely with Ringway for some time now to ensure everything is in place for the new contract to begin.

“Also, by working together with Cheshire West and Chester Council to share expertise and resources, this new contract presents us with an additional saving. This means that it will provide excellent value for money for Shropshire residents.”

Brian Moss, Regional Director of Ringway, said:

“We are delighted to have won this strategic highway, streetscene and fleet services contract with Shropshire Council and have enjoyed working closely, through the mobilisation period, with Shropshire Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council to develop an effective, efficient and sustainable highway service for each contract.”

Shropshire Council have an option to extend the six-year contract for a further four years, subject to the contractor’s high performance.