Local authorities are calling for new powers that would make it easier for them to enforce lane rental schemes for utility companies carrying out streetworks.

 

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, wants councils to be able to introduce these schemes without the requirement to seek approval from the Transport Secretary.

 

Lane rental means gas, water and cable providers are charged a daily rate for work carried out on key congested roads during busy periods.

 

This, the organisation says, incentivises companies to finish work faster and get it right first time, and could help to prevent gridlock. It adds that revenue raised from lane rental charges could be used by councils to fund measures aimed at reducing future road works disruption.

 

“Many of our towns and cities could face gridlock at rush hour unless robust and decisive action is taken right now,” said LGA transport spokesman Cllr Peter Box.

 

“However, local authorities are being hamstrung by a lack of effective powers to tackle this issue head on. Councils know their areas best and should be able to make decisions about traffic locally.

 

“This means they need the option of being able to introduce lane rental schemes without Secretary of State approval, which is time consuming and bureaucratic.”

 

Currently Transport for London and Kent County Council are the only councils to be granted approval to run lane rental schemes. The LGA claims that, in the two years since the scheme was introduced in London, it has cut serious disruption from roadworks by almost half.

 

Highways consultant Roger Elphick OBE commented: “In principle lane rental is a good idea, however it needs to be thought through very carefully. This could help to speed up utility works but should, initially at least, be limited to the main routes under local authority control where congestion is a problem. Any income could be used to partly offset the long term damage caused to pavements by reinstatements.

 

“Introducing lane rental on minor roads I think it would be administratively very expensive and would be of little benefit.”

 

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are determined to deliver better journeys for drivers and cut congestion. We commissioned a report evaluating existing lane rental schemes in Kent and London which was published earlier this year. Work to formulate options on potential future schemes is ongoing and at an early stage.”

 

(Photo: Alastair Lloyd)