Government is urging the third of local authorities who do not have roadwork permit or lane rental schemes in place to introduce such measures to reduce congestion and delay around openings in the highway.

Around 65% of authorities now operate such schemes which, it is said, are helping to reduce the length of disruption from roadworks and the number of projects that take longer than first thought.

“Roadworks are the bane of drivers’ lives, causing delays and costing the UK economy £4.3Bn a year,” said Roads Minister Jesse Norman. “More councils should look at adopting permit schemes, as well as lane rental schemes, in due course.”

Permit schemes were introduced in 2010 to give councils more control over roadworks. Local authorities can also add conditions, such as the time when works can start and end, limits on the number of days they can be in place and where equipment should be stored.

Later this year lane rental schemes will be rolled out nationwide, where companies will be charged up to £2500 a day to carry out works on busy roads. Pilot lane rental schemes in London and Kent were said to have led to a drop in the level of congestion on the busiest roads.

The Transport Secretary has also called on companies to carry out works on footpaths where possible instead of under roads to avoid any disruption to motorists. Details will be revealed in due course.

Local Government Association transport spokesman Martin Tett welcomed the Government’s call for more councils to introduce roadwork permits, which he said provide authorities “with the ability to proactively manage all works as a way to reduce and control the associated disruption”.

He also supported lane rental powers for councils. “It is crucial that councils are given these powers without lengthy national approval mechanisms, so they can ensure critical roadworks are carried out as quickly as possible,” he said.

(Photo: TfL)