Notts County Council Considers Permit Scheme to Limit Roadworks Disruption

Companies currently only have to give notice to the council of planned roadworks, this new scheme would give the council more power to schedule and coordinate works to minimise disruption to road users.

The permit scheme, which is already in place in 70% of English Councils has been proven to reduce congestion and use of temporary traffic lights. Other councils with the scheme in place also report better communication links between companies and road users and improved adherence to health and safety regulations. The Streetworks permit scheme would be enforceable by Fixed Penalty Notices being issues to organisations breaching permit conditions or working without permission.

Utility companies are responsible for maintaining the networks of pipes and cables that deliver vital services such as water, gas, electricity and broadband. If a company needs to repair or extend pipework that is in the Council’s roads, current legislation requires them to give notice of the work they intend to carry out.  This means that the Council has limited powers to help manage the works which can lead to prolonged and unnecessary disruption for road users.

Councillor John Cottee, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee, said: “We know residents get frustrated when they see work being done on a road by different organisations within short spaces of time.  Sometimes this is in response to an emergency and that will always take priority but sometimes it’s because the works aren’t coordinated. We would like to work more closely with utilities to try and schedule work more effectively and introducing a permit scheme could potentially give us the opportunity to do that.”

Councillor Cottee added: “Our duty as a Highway Authority is to ensure all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, can get from A to B as quickly and easily as possible. We also recognise that utility works are essential and cannot be done without some disruption.  There is strong evidence from the Department for Transport that other areas have benefitted significantly from similar schemes, but we will listen carefully to all feedback before making a decision on whether to proceed.”

A formal consultation will take place with utility companies before Nottinghamshire County Council reach a final decision.