Council wants powers to encourage faster roadworks

A council is applying to the government for powers to charge companies up to £2,500 a day for works on key roads, so they get fixed more quickly.

This would make Buckinghamshire Council one of the first authorities in the country to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme, which would apply to about 8% of roads in the county.

Steven Broadbent, the council's member for transport, said it would lead to "more meaningful options in levying fines to encourage better behaviour from those working on our roads".

Stuart Wilson, leader of the Independent opposition group, said "we welcome the scheme as residents are fed up with endless roadworks and unmanned traffic lights".

If approved by the Transport Secretary, the scheme would complement an existing permit system operated by Buckinghamshire Highways, with charges applying to works promoted by utility companies and highway authorities.

The council hopes this will encourage companies to move their works to less busy times, or complete them in a quicker timescale, to avoid accumulating charges and lengthy disruption to motorists.

Similar schemes already exist in Kent, London, Surrey and West Sussex, and the Buckinghamshire model would apply to more 500 streets, with locations to be reviewed on a yearly basis.

Broadbent, Conservative, said: "While we try to coordinate works to minimise pressures, over recent years we have seen a huge increase in permits for works - and despite the planning, the cumulative effects on road users is a source of frustration."

He added: "Clearly, we cannot eradicate all delays and congestion, especially when it comes to emergency works, but this encourages those working on the roads to better plan their works to take place during less busy times."

Wilson added that "utility companies need to pay the societal cost and do the work quickly and right, first time".

Reform UK councillor, Paul Irwin, said: "For too long our residents have suffered at the hands of utility companies over-running and taking advantage of the rules. The new system will charge per day and make them work more efficiently, so I will be supporting this wholeheartedly."

Susan Morgan, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "The lane rental scheme is a fantastic idea that emerged from the cross party income maximisation workshop, of which both myself and councillor Jonathan Waters were integral members."

The authority hopes to submit its application to the Department for Transport by the end of the month. If successful, it could be implemented by the end of the year.

Labour and the Green Party have also been approached for comment.

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