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Written question asked by Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 October 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 October 2014. It was answered by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 21 October 2014 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Road Works

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to make utility companies more accountable for traffic delays arising from their street works.

Answer

Utility companies have statutory powers to carry out works to maintain or install their apparatus in the street to provide the services that we all rely on. Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, the street authority has a duty to co-ordinate all works on its road network in order to minimise inconvenience to road users, and utilities have a duty to co-operate with them in doing that. The Traffic Management Act 2004 also places a 'Network Management Duty' on authorities to keep traffic moving as far as practical.

In 2012 the Government increased the penalties that local authorities can impose where street works by utility companies overrun their agreed duration, up to a maximum charge of £10,000 a day.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
210399
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Utilities Road traffic Road works
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk