A roadwork’s permit has been announced for London commencing 11th January 2010. Any utility firm that needs to dig up a road will have to seek permission from Transport for London. The permits are intended to tackle the chaos caused when gas, water, electrical or telecoms firms carry out roadworks in adjacent roads without telling the authorities.
Britain’s first roadwork permit system will be launched in London in the New Year. Utility firms will be banned from digging holes in the road without first obtaining permission from Transport for London. They will have to pay £240 for each permit and face fines of up to £5,000 if they breach regulations.
The permits are intended to tackle the chaos caused when gas, electricity, water or telecoms firms carry out roadworks in adjacent roads at the same time without telling the authorities. TfL, which announced the move today, gained approval for the scheme from the Department of Transport. The permit system – a manifesto pledge by Mayor Boris Johnson – will begin on the busiest roads on 11th January. TfL says it will allow officials to plan and coordinate the timing of roadworks on the same section of road simultaneously. A study in 2004 showed that Oxford Street was dug up 176 times in a year and there were 154 sets of roadworks in the Strand. “ This is long overdue” Mr. Johnson said “ Drivers in London have too often been the victims of unnecessary roadworks, forced to sit stationary in traffic clogged frustration caused by work sites reminiscent of the Mary Celeste”
Source: David Williams (Motoring Correspondent) Evening Standard 7th December 2009
