London's drivers first in the country to benefit from roadworks permit scheme

Mayor's Office release 11 January 2010

The Mayor of London has succeeded in his bid to see the capital's roads become the first in the country to operate a scheme where utility companies and other organisations will have to apply for permission first before digging them up.

Today (11 January) Transport for London and 16 of the capital's boroughs officially launched a permit scheme that means any company digging holes without permission or breaking the conditions of their permit risks being fined. It is hoped the move will reduce the 300,000 holes dug in London's roads each year by utility companies, by encouraging companies to work together. The scheme was a manifesto pledge by Mayor Boris Johnson as part of his efforts to smooth traffic flow.

Permitting will enable TfL and the boroughs to plan and coordinate the timing of when roadworks take place, to give companies the opportunity to work on the same sections of road at the same time.

Hailing the launch of his scheme, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "This significant step shows London has got serious about dealing with the nonsensical situation of companies being able to simply turn up and dig without a care in the world for the consequences. It will encourage the utilities to share their trenches, which will reduce disruption and Londoners frustration.

"However it is too early to claim victory. My team is battering down the Government's doors in a bid to win permission to increase our cone busting power by running a lane rental scheme that would mean companies would pay for every minute they dig. Surely there could be no greater incentive for the utilities to ensure their works are as speedy as possible and cause the capital the least disruption possible."

TfL is in discussions with the DfT about the possible introduction of a lane rental scheme alongside the permit scheme on the Transport for London Road Network. This would require utility companies to pay a rental charge for every day that they are on working on a street, rather than a one off charge, encouraging the utility companies to manage their work time more efficiently.

Since April 2009 utility companies across London have been working under a voluntary code of conduct launched by the Mayor. A review of the first six months of the code showed that the collaboration had produced some evidence of improvement.

There has been an increase in off-peak working by the companies; the number of sites failing to display information signage, as agreed within the code, was small; and there has been a favourable reduction in the number of works requiring improvement for safety reasons. The utilities companies have since met with TfL and the Mayor's transport adviser to agree toughening the code by agreeing very challenging targets for areas of the code.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's transport advisor, said: "The Mayor's Code of Conduct is already showing the utility companies the advantages for themselves and for Londoners of improving the way they work. I'm also pleased the companies have now agreed to set tougher targets in areas such as making sure every set of roadworks has good information on its purpose and duration; as well as contact details for the company carrying it out."

David Brown, Managing Director of Surface Transport, TfL, said: "Roadworks are a major contributor of traffic congestion in London - if they aren't properly managed, they can cause huge frustration for everyone who uses the roads.

"The London Permit Scheme will allow TfL to better manage utility works on the major roads in London, helping to ensure greater co-ordination of works between contractors and reduce instances where the same section of road is repeatedly dug up."

The Chairman of London Councils Transport and Environment Committee, Councillor Mike Fisher, said: "It can be extremely frustrating for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians as well as residents and businesses to find the same road has been dug up again for yet another utility company to carry out work.

"The permit scheme puts boroughs back in the driving seat by giving them powers to co-ordinate road works so delays and inconvenience are kept to a minimum. Action will be taken against utility companies which do not meet the conditions of their permit."

TfL is in discussions with a number of London boroughs who are also keen to introduce a roadworks permitting scheme on their roads, and aims to encourage the majority of London's boroughs to implement a permit scheme by the end of 2010.