Innovative
measures to cut the number of rush hour road works were announced
today by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
Under ‘lane rental’ schemes councils would be able to charge
utility companies to dig up the busiest roads during peak times
when road works cause the most disruption. Companies would be able
to avoid the charges by carrying out works during quieter periods
or, if appropriate, at night.
Philip Hammond said:
"Everyone knows how frustrating it can be when you are
sat in a traffic jam, unable to get to work or drop off the
children at school because someone is digging up the road.
"This disruption is expensive as well as inconvenient,
with one estimate valuing the loss to the economy from road works
congestion at £4 billion a year. We simply cannot afford this.
"That is why I am putting forward proposals which would
incentivise utility companies and local authorities to carry out
their works at times when they will cause the minimum disruption
to the travelling public.”
The Department for Transport has today published a consultation
and draft guidance to councils outlining how lane rental schemes
could be implemented. Any councils wishing to put in place a lane
rental scheme would need to gain approval from the Department.
In order to gather evidence on the effectiveness of lane rental,
the Department has proposed that schemes should initially be used
in one urban and one non-metropolitan area.
The proposals are clear that lane rental charges must be
avoidable and proportionate to the costs of congestion. Councils
are also being encouraged to apply the same principles to their
own works and come forward with lane rental schemes which fit the
needs of their local area.
Any revenue raised from the implementation of lane rental charges
would be used by councils to fund measures which could help to
reduce future road works disruption. This could include
infrastructure work, research or measures to improve the
management of works.
The consultation will close on 31 st October 2011.
Notes to Editors
1. The consultation document can be found here:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-25 2. Local councils
will need to propose charge levels that are appropriate to their
individual circumstances. In particular, they will need to show
that their charges are proportionate to the costs imposed by works
on the roads in question. This is subject to a proposed maximum
charge of £2,500 per day. 3. The primary legislation (section 74A
of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991) provides the necessary
powers for local highway authorities to put in place lane rental
schemes, subject (in England) to the approval of the Secretary of
State, and allows Regulations to make further provision about such
schemes. 4. Lane rental pilot schemes were operated in Camden and
Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2004, but no further schemes have
since been implemented. As a result of subsequent changes to
various aspects of street works legislation, the existing lane
rental Regulations are now out of date and, in effect, inoperable.
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