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LGA responds to government roadworks announcement

LGA Environment Spokesman Cllr Peter Box responds to the Government's announcement that councils and utility companies could be fined for leaving roadworks unmanned at weekends.

"Councils want to do everything they can to help motorists and minimise disruption to their journeys.

"Roadworks are necessary to ensure the supply of vital services like gas, electricity and rural broadband and to improve the roads we all use. There is already a strong financial incentive for roadworks to be finished as quickly as possible because the hire of equipment and trained staff is so expensive. Often works are left unattended for a very good reason, for example to let concrete dry. These fines may mean we end up paying people to watch concrete dry because it is cheaper.

"Councils and utility companies are working closely together to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. We have long called for the expansion of the lane rental scheme, which currently operates in London, where it has reduced delays significantly. Under the scheme, contractors pay for the time they occupy busy roads and are therefore incentivised to get the job done properly and on time.

"The country currently has a £12 billion backlog of pothole repairs and one in five roads is classed as being in poor condition, but more people than ever are using the roads. Councils need more powers to tackle congestion. Measures which would meet this objective include fully funding the concessionary fares scheme, handing control over the Bus Service Operators' Grant – a fuel duty rebate paid directly to bus operators by the Government – to councils and giving them the power to enforce moving traffic violations, including illegal U-turns and box junction offences, to tackle congestion hotspots."

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