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Written question asked by Greg Knight (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 November 2021 (named day). It was answered by Trudy Harrison (Conservative) on Monday, 8 November 2021 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward proposals to strengthen the legislative framework governing statutory authorities' ability to obstruct the highway for the purposes of repair and maintenance; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) that framework in reducing avoidable traffic delays and (b) lane rental schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Answer

Utility companies need to access the highway to repair, maintain and install the infrastructure on which we all rely. But that does not mean works should take any longer than is necessary.

This Government has been reforming and modernising the legislative framework in recent years to reduce the congestion caused by works and to provide up-to-date information to road users. We have set up and delivered Street Manager - our digital service that is used by all local authorities and utility companies for planning and managing works and which now streams open data on live and planned works. We recently consulted on further reform www.gov.uk/government/consultations/street-manager-and-permit-scheme-changes

We published two evaluations on the effectiveness of permit schemes that almost every authority now operates (in 2018) and the pioneer lane rental schemes in Kent and in London (in 2016): www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-permit-schemes-evaluation-of-effectiveness;www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-lane-rental-evaluation Both of these informed further policy development including our decision to allow new lane rental schemes to be set up. Surrey County Council operate the latest scheme that began in April 2021.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
69011
Session
2021-22
Subjects
Roads Repairs and maintenance
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk