Mayor calls road management summit and strengthens capital's code

Mayor's Office release 25 February 2010

Representatives of London's major utilities met the Mayor at City Hall today (25 February) to sign up to a stronger version of the Mayor's Code of Conduct for roadworks in the capital. The Mayor has also invited the major utility companies and London's boroughs to attend a road management summit on 12 March where they will discuss how they can make further progress in reducing the disruption caused by roadworks.

In April 2009 the Mayor agreed a voluntary Code of Conduct for Roadworks with the five largest utility companies working in London that has already resulted in better managed roadworks. A progress report released by Transport for London today found that the code has resulted in an increase in the proportion of utility work taking place outside peak hours on TfL roads. It reports that the amount of work taking place outside peak hours on TfL roads by companies signed up to the Mayor's Code of Conduct has doubled.

The progress report also finds a reduction in the number of works inspected that required improvement for safety reasons; and only a small number of sites failing to display standard information signage.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: "We have seen some encouraging signs in the way roadworks are coordinated and the increase in working outside peak hours is more than welcome. But anyone using our roads knows there is still a heck of a lot more we can do to ease disruption. Londoners still spend too much time in a state of frustration and anger when confronted by a plethora of cones so I am asking our boroughs and utility companies to meet me for a full and frank discussion about how we can all do better."

Over 90 per cent of work on TfL roads is now carried out by utility companies signed up to the Code and a sixth utility company, Southern Gas, signed up today. The eight existing sections of the Code are being strengthened and two new sections added, which will aim to improve the performance of utility companies in repairing roads where work takes place and their response to reports of problems. Formal targets are being included for the first time and utility companies have also decided to use London's scheme as a template for a national code.

London's Code of Conduct complements the capital's permitting scheme that the Mayor fought for and which was finally introduced in January. It means companies who dig without permission or break conditions can be fined. But permits also mean more notice of planned work so it can be better coordinated and companies can be asked to work together rather than repeatedly digging roads up. There have been 4,500 applications to TfL for permits so far and, crucially, around 700 have been refused. This wasn't possible previously and will help to minimise disruption.

The Mayor's Office has asked the Government for permission to set up a lane rental scheme in London. This would mean utility companies could be charged for every minute they dig. It is seen as the best way of encouraging them to carry out roadworks as efficiently as possible.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's transport advisor, said: "Roadworks cost Londoners too much time and cause too much frustration. The Mayor is determined to do everything that is possible to minimise their impact on the capital. That utilities intend to use our code nationally demonstrates London's leadership in this area. But the Holy Grail in dealing with road works would be a lane rental scheme. We are battering down the Government's doors to get permission as it would give utilities a real financial incentive to be quick, coordinated and cause less frustration."