Local Authorities are facing greater cuts in their budget allocations, cuts that are amongst the largest in living memory. In one case, one county council has been asked to find £70 MILLION of budget savings.
As a result, products, services, and solutions that are budget friendly are more important than ever. However, it’s not only 2023’s budgets that local authorities will have their eye on, but also 2024, ’25, ‘26 and beyond.
Indeed, long-term solutions steeped in cost-effectiveness are becoming the holy grail for local authorities who continue to battle against seemingly ever decreasing budget allocations, creating a knock on effect for every service that they provide.
Maintaining highways is a constant challenge for governments and local authorities, and one of the most significant issues they face is ensuring the sustainability, durability and longevity of their infrastructure. That’s why products like SHIMPAC®’s ROADSHIMS® ironwork seating solutions are so important. In a closely linked additional challenge, the environmental impact of solutions is another huge focus for Local Authorities, as councils come under more and more pressure to meet CO2 reduction targets.
The ROADSHIMS® range from SHIMPAC® is a durable and cost-effective way to install ironwork seating. The product is designed to withstand the test of time, and some of the first installations of ROADSHIMS® are still in the ground without failing after over 30 years. This longevity is incredibly important in the world of highways, where long-term solutions are essential for budget savings – not only now, but for future budget savings too. Faced with tightening budgets, local authorities are taking notice.
When you factor in products that tick the box of vital environmental concerns along with being budget friendly, the field starts to narrow.
Highway infrastructure must be built to last, and this is where SHIMPAC® comes in. By providing a reliable and long-lasting solution, this product can help to reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs in the long term, freeing up budget for other projects and initiatives.
One of the main benefits of ROADSHIMS® is ease of installation. The product can be installed quickly and easily, which means that highways can be up and running in no time. This can help to minimise disruptions and keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Another benefit is durability. The product is designed to withstand heavy loads and harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for use in high-traffic areas. This durability ensures that the infrastructure remains safe and reliable for years to come, reducing the risk of accidents, damage to vehicles, and subsequently – damage claims against already cash strapped councils.
The installation and durability benefits in turn contribute to the meeting of key environmental and sustainability targets. Less vehicles needed on site upon installation, no need for year-on-year repair and a dramatic reduction in materials are all key results of utilising ROADSHIMS® for ironwork seating.
ROADSHIMS® are incredibly cost-effective. The products are designed to be low maintenance, which means that it can help to reduce the overall cost of maintaining highway infrastructure both in the short and long term. By reducing the need for repairs and maintenance, the product can help to save money in the long term, which is essential for budget-controlled authorities.
Short-term, the cost of a SHIMPAC® installation is 40% lower than an alternative ironwork seating option, yet also bucks the trend of a lower priced solution resulting in lower quality. Technical compliance and with numerous 35-year installation sites around the UK still intact and performing, it’s undoubtedly the case that this isn’t a pocket friendly option that will result in regret.
Barry Andrews, Technical Lead at SHIMPAC® told us:
It’s about a long-term approach, yet our system also has the all-important low installation cost.
“Rightly or wrongly, we know there will be a certain percentage of those looking for a solution will decide based purely on cost. So, to make sure we provide cost-effectiveness is vital, and we’re proud to say using SHIMPAC® Systems saves a minimum of 40% for the same ironwork seating installation using other compliant products.
“Additionally, SHIMPAC® Systems products are the only materials that have consistently been used to gain product assurance certification (HAPAS/PAS) covering ironwork installations.
“As our councils face more and more pressing budget issues, it’s systems like ours that can come to the rescue in the short-term, and keep more budgets intact for other local authority issues longer term, when our products are still performing.”
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