Latest news with #potholes
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tougher rules needed for utility firms digging up roads, MPs say
Utility companies should be forced to guarantee repairs to roads for five years after digging them up, MPs have said. A new watchdog should also be appointed to manage the disruption caused by firms carrying out work on pipes and cables in England. Transport Committee chairwoman Ruth Cadbury said a pattern of repeated works can feel like a 'recurring nightmare' for road users. Under current rules, utility firms are responsible for the quality of the road surfaces they have reinstated for two years after works have completed, or three years in the case of deeper excavations. The committee called for that period to be extended to five years so council tax payers do not have to pick up the bill for repairing potholes caused by shoddy remediation work. Other recommendations from the committee included: – Tighter use of immediate permits enabling companies to dig up roads with little or no notice given to the local authority. – A new streetworks commissioner, similar to the Scottish roadworks tsar, to monitor performance and resolve disputes. – The wider use of lane rental schemes, charging firms up to £2,500 a day to incentivise quicker completion of works. – Better co-operation so utility firms and housing developers can work on the same bit of road at the same time rather than have repeated closures. Labour MP Ms Cadbury acknowledged that ageing infrastructure under the roads needed to be maintained and upgraded and extra cables and pipes were required for new homes. 'But as every road user knows, street works can feel like a recurring nightmare,' she said. The committee's recommendations would make a huge difference if they were implemented, she said. 'Upping the quality of reinstatement works will help stem the never-ending plague of potholes on local roads. 'Lane rental schemes should provide a financial incentive to complete works on time. 'And longer-term planning and earlier notification should help councils prevent the infuriating occurrence of multiple roads being closed in one locality, or the same road being dug up multiple times in one year.' A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We wholeheartedly agree that streetworks are far too disruptive for drivers and that is why we have taken action to prevent the impact on drivers. 'We've cracked down on streetwork companies overrunning or leaving roads poorly repaired by ramping up fines and giving local authorities new powers to coordinate roadworks more efficiently and will put measures in place so 50% of surplus lane rental funds must be invested into highway maintenance. 'We are determined to end the pothole plague, which is why we are already investing £1.6 billion this year to help local authorities resurface local roads and fix the equivalent of up to seven million extra potholes this year.'
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- Business
- The Independent
Tougher rules needed for utility firms digging up roads, MPs say
Utility companies should be forced to guarantee repairs to roads for five years after digging them up, MPs have said. A new watchdog should also be appointed to manage the disruption caused by firms carrying out work on pipes and cables in England. Transport Committee chairwoman Ruth Cadbury said a pattern of repeated works can feel like a 'recurring nightmare' for road users. Under current rules, utility firms are responsible for the quality of the road surfaces they have reinstated for two years after works have completed, or three years in the case of deeper excavations. The committee called for that period to be extended to five years so council tax payers do not have to pick up the bill for repairing potholes caused by shoddy remediation work. Other recommendations from the committee included: – Tighter use of immediate permits enabling companies to dig up roads with little or no notice given to the local authority. – A new streetworks commissioner, similar to the Scottish roadworks tsar, to monitor performance and resolve disputes. – The wider use of lane rental schemes, charging firms up to £2,500 a day to incentivise quicker completion of works. – Better co-operation so utility firms and housing developers can work on the same bit of road at the same time rather than have repeated closures. Labour MP Ms Cadbury acknowledged that ageing infrastructure under the roads needed to be maintained and upgraded and extra cables and pipes were required for new homes. 'But as every road user knows, street works can feel like a recurring nightmare,' she said. The committee's recommendations would make a huge difference if they were implemented, she said. 'Upping the quality of reinstatement works will help stem the never-ending plague of potholes on local roads. 'Lane rental schemes should provide a financial incentive to complete works on time. 'And longer-term planning and earlier notification should help councils prevent the infuriating occurrence of multiple roads being closed in one locality, or the same road being dug up multiple times in one year.' A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We wholeheartedly agree that streetworks are far too disruptive for drivers and that is why we have taken action to prevent the impact on drivers. 'We've cracked down on streetwork companies overrunning or leaving roads poorly repaired by ramping up fines and giving local authorities new powers to coordinate roadworks more efficiently and will put measures in place so 50% of surplus lane rental funds must be invested into highway maintenance. 'We are determined to end the pothole plague, which is why we are already investing £1.6 billion this year to help local authorities resurface local roads and fix the equivalent of up to seven million extra potholes this year.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Newcastle road repair works cost tops £250m
A city has a £250m backlog of pothole and footpath repair estimates by Newcastle City Council suggest it would cost about £251m to return the region's roads and pavements to an "acceptable standard".The council said the funding it received for road maintenance failed to match the cost of all required Department for Transport (DfT) said the North East Combined Authority (NECA) was receiving more than £21m this year to fix its roads. Liberal Democrat councillor Wendy Taylor said in a meeting last week she was "fed up" with the state of the city's roads, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."I get very frustrated with the number of issues I discuss with highways officers and months later nothing has really happened," she local authority said due to the lack of government funding to tackle the issue it had to prioritise the most urgent to most recent figures, Newcastle City Council made 18,179 repairs in the 2023-24 financial year at a cost of £385,272 – compared with only 12,834 in the previous 12 this year the government announced £1.6bn would be handed to local authorities to fix the new funds, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told councils in March: "Get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they're delivering for their communities."But only £21.7m is coming to north-east England, less than a tenth of Newcastle's need DfT said: "This is just the start – the government will also be investing a further £24bn to upgrade motorways and local roads across the country, delivering lasting infrastructure Britain can rely on." Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Staffordshire council hits five-year high in pothole repairs
A highways teams has been able to fill in more potholes in the last year than in each of the previous four thanks to AI technology, a local authority filled in more than 37,300 potholes during the year 2024-25, Staffordshire County Council has said they used AI to assess the condition of the county's 4,000-mile road network, as well as sending out more crews and using the JCB Pothole Pro to speed up council announced an £8m scheme last June aimed at repairing road defects more quickly. Information about the number of repairs was published as part of a government requirement to share road maintenance authority said recent warm weather meant staff had been focused on a preventative maintenance programme, to help stop potholes and other defects from forming."Residents have told me time and again that the condition of their local roads is one of their top priorities, and it's our top priority too," said Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic said highways were underfunded, but the council was looking at ways to make the money they get go further."I welcome the transparency that this new reporting brings, as it shows how in Staffordshire we have a good grasp of what the problems are, and crews are getting on with the job of fixing as many defects as they can," he said. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Prince William helps stranded football team struggling with access to their club by fixing pothole-ridden lane
PRINCE William has paved the way for a stranded local football team by getting its potholes fixed. Work began to repair an access road to Mousehole AFC on Monday, which also serves a campsite and neighbouring Paul Cricket Club, in Cornwall. 2 For years the club has complained about its narrow pothole-ridden lane which has caused congestion and damage to cars. But when Prince William, 43, discovered the pothole crisis he drafted in help to repair the road - which will be fixed in time for next season's games. The project was revealed in the annual report by William 's Duchy of Cornwall. Simon Taylor, Project Lead for Mousehole AFC, said: "Within a week, I was in a Teams meeting with Martin Riley, who'd been invited by HRH to see what could be done to help fix the existing road. "Two weeks later, Martin visited the club. After experiencing the lane for himself, he quickly realised a full repair wasn't viable. "With planning permission already secured for an alternative access point, we turned our attention to the possibility of building a brand-new road. "Countless meetings, both on-site and virtual, later, we've pulled together an incredible consortium of local and national companies who've committed their time, resources, and expertise to bring this dream to life." The construction is being carried out at no cost to the club thanks to donations from a string of firms including private companies including Tarmac. The Prince of Wales said: "I have seen time and time again that community hubs are essential in providing the spaces for people to come together, to build stronger communities and to allow people to thrive. "It is a privilege to be able to help the local community access Mousehole AFC. I'd like to personally add my thanks for all the hard work that's gone into making it happen. "I look forward to seeing the new road for myself as soon as I can." The project will also include a new football car park. The football club and land is not part of Duchy of Cornwall property, which has 52,173 hectares in 19 counties including Cornwall. Simon Taylor added: 'This project is transformative not just for Mousehole AFC but for the entire area. "The cricket club will also benefit from the new road, and we'll now be able to host more events at Interiora Trungle Parc, turning it into a true community hub. "Most importantly, it will take matchday and holiday traffic out of the village, improving the experience for everyone. "I'm incredibly grateful to our consortium, there are too many individuals to name, but their support has been extraordinary. "Special thanks go to Martin Riley for his dedication and guidance, GRS Group CEO Jon Fisher - without whose project leadership we could not have moved forward - and of course to HRH The Prince of Wales, whose involvement made this possible.' Jon Fisher, Chief Executive of GRS Group, which is leading the works, said: "This project is a powerful example of the difference we can make when we bring together our national capability and expertise. "It reflects what GRS is all about, building infrastructure that improves lives and connects communities, and it's one of many grassroots initiatives we're proud to support nationwide. "Improving this access road will benefit the wider community around Mousehole, and it's something we're very proud to be involved with." The new road is expected to be completed in time for the start of Mousehole AFC's 2025/26 season in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South this August. Other firms who along with Tarmac helped pave the way for Wills include civil engineering firms ISC and Griffiths, Cornish companies Maen Karne and Cormac, along with Holcim Aggregate Industries, highway maintenance company Colas and national civil and drainage suppliers Keyline. Local landowner Paul Pond and campaigner Vice Chair Deryk Heywood have also been hailed for the work.
