WIREDGOV

Motorway control room opens its doors

HIGHWAYS AGENCY News Release (ERCC/014) issued by The Government News Network on 23 August 2007

The Highways Agency's Eastern Regional Control Centre (RCC) in South Mimms, Hertfordshire will be opening its doors to potential employees on Thursday 30 August.

The control centre is the hub of the motorway network in the East, monitoring traffic conditions on the M1, M25, M11, A1(M), M40 and M4 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The team is inviting local people to visit the RCC and find out more about what it takes to be a control room operator.

RCC Operations Manager, Eddie Oag, said:

"Control room operators play a crucial role in reducing congestion and helping drivers make more reliable journeys. They are responsible for answering emergency roadside telephones, setting overhead message boards on motorways and despatching patrols to incidents across the region.

"The best way to find out about something is to experience it first hand so I would encourage anyone who thinks it might be the job for them to come along on Thursday."

The open evening take place from 6pm until 8pm at the East RCC, St Albans Road, South Mimms, EN6 3PN. It is just off junction 23 of the M25 or junction 1 of the A1(M).

To find out more about the role of a control room operator log on to http://www.highways.gov.uk/recruitment

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. We manage, maintain and improve England's motorways and major A roads on behalf of the Secretary of State.

2. Real-time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads is available:
* From the web at http://www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo
* By phone from the Highways Agency 24-hour voice activated phone service on 08700 660 115. (Calls from BT landlines to 0870 numbers will cost no more than 8p per minute; mobile calls usually cost more).
Before using a mobile, find a safe place to park. Never stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway except in an emergency. Make sure it's safe and legal before you call.

3. For more general information about the Highways Agency and its work, visit the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk, or telephone the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30 at any time. (Calls to 0845 numbers cost no more than 3p/min from BT residential landlines. Call charges from other landlines and mobile networks may vary)

For enquiries from the media, journalists and researchers only, contact Highways Agency press officer Clair Thomas on 07769 882101
or e-mail clair.thomas@highways.gsi.gov.uk

Media enquiries out of hours should be made to the Highways Agency National Press Office on 0207 081 7443.