Unlawful Road Obstruction and Safety Violations

Date: 06/01/2026 Location: Intersection of Olveston Rd, Downend Rd and Purdown Rd.

I am filing this formal complaint regarding an unlawful obstruction of a public road, at the above location, where individuals are blocking the road using inappropriate and non-compliant equipment, including a Titan Expandable Safety Barrier style (or equivalent, see picture) yellow/black foldable plastic barrier https://hermeq.com/ uk/ en/ expandable-safety-barrier-yb.html). This style of barrier expands to an estimated 3.1m and weighs an estimated 10.5kg, designed solely for pedestrian crowd control in indoor or low-risk areas like retail and hospital, not for vehicular traffic management on public roads.

Key Violations Observed

No Permit or Signage: No clear permit is displayed authorizing the road closure, nor are there posted timings indicating permitted blockage periods. Under the Highways Act 1980 (Section 137), obstructing a highway / road without lawful authority is a criminal offence.

Non-Compliant Equipment: The lightweight plastic barrier does not meet UK Chapter 8 Traffic Signs Manual standards for road traffic control, which require robust, certified barriers (e.g., water-filled or steel with anti-trip bases and BS EN 8442 compliance). This poses severe risks to vehicles and pedestrians.

No PPE Worn: The individual (not shown in picture) managing the obstruction are not wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as high-visibility clothing or helmets, breaching standard safety protocols for roadside works under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and CDM Regulations.

Illegal Small Cones: Additional small traffic cones (approximately 200-300mm tall) have been placed randomly, which are inadequate for road use. UK standards (Chapter 8) mandate cones at least 750mm tall for visibility to drivers; these are liable to be overlooked, run over, and cause property damage or personal injury.

This setup creates an immediate public safety hazard, potential accidents, and disruption to traffic flow. I request investigation, removal of the obstructions, enforcement action against the responsible parties, and confirmation of any required permits. Photos/evidence attached for reference.