ACTION TO TACKLE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY STREETWORKS MOVES CLOSER
02 February 2005 - DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

Tough new penalties to tackle traffic disruption caused by badly managed work by utility companies and local authorities were outlined by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling today.

Disruption caused by utility companies costs the economy £4.3 billion
each year. The new plans are detailed in a consultation taking
forward the Government''s Traffic Management Act - which gives local authorities new powers to better manage and co-ordinate street works.

The consultation will cover four sets of proposals:
- The introduction of permit schemes for works carried out in the street.
- New fixed penalties for utility companies when they commit criminal offences;
- Changes to the existing regime for charging utilities whose works overrun;
- A package of other changes to strengthen the existing controls over utility works.

The new plans include:

- Tougher penalties for utility companies who do not complete their street works on time (with a new maximum of £5,000 a day, as against £2,000 under the existing scheme).

- Higher charges will apply for overrunning on major routes, but no charges for works on the least busy roads.

- Giving councils power to set up permit schemes - subject to approval from the Secretary of State. The consultation includes suggested permit costs varying between £30 to £400 depending on the type and length of work. It is expected that most permits would be at the lower end of this scale.

- Bans of up to 5 years on carrying out works on recently dug up roads.
- Stronger powers to allow local authorities to direct utilities about when and where they can and cannot dig up roads. For instance, requiring that works cannot take place on days when they may clash with other events, such as sporting fixtures, market days or other major road works.
- Requirements for utility companies to give local authorities up to
6 months notice of future works. The more major the roads, and the
longer the works are expected to last, the more notice that needs to be given.

- Allowing authorities to issue £120 fixed penalties to utility companies who fail to meet their legal duty to notify a local authority that they will be digging up a road in their area.

Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary said:

''Every motorist knows the frustration of being held up by roadworks that seem to go on and on. The new measures will provide better controls to get work done so that it minimises delays. The disruption caused by utility companies and local authorities digging up the roads costs billions of pounds each year. The Government is determined to cut back on this disruption and tackle the congestion it causes.''

www.dft.gov.uk

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