Hertfordshire County Council is calling for higher fines for utility companies
The Council's written to the Department for Transport over concerns of poorly planned, managed and finished roadworks
Hertfordshire County Council has written to the Department for Transport calling for an increase in fines for utility companies that cause disruption through poorly managed roadworks.
The council said that while most of the roadworks on its highways are completed to a good standard, a significant number are poorly planned, managed, or finished, creating unnecessary disruption for residents and businesses.
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Executive Member for Highways, said:
"With over 60,000 sets of roadworks on our roads each year, most of which are carried out by utility companies, it’s important for us to be able to manage roadworks effectively.
"I know how hard our Network Management teams work to coordinate works across the county, but some roadworks are poorly managed by utility companies. When they fail to implement road closures and temporary traffic lights in the agreed ways and at the agreed times, it's our residents and businesses that suffer.
"Frustratingly, the current regulations only allow us to fine utility companies £80 for breaching permit conditions, and just £300 for carrying out unauthorised roadworks. This is not a meaningful disincentive for multi-million-pound utility companies, many of whom appear to view such fines as simply the cost of doing business, rather than an incentive to improve."
The council has issued more than 10,000 fines to utility companies since April 2022. It is asking the Secretary of State to review the fines available for non-compliance and to change the rules around fines and inspections so that councils can provide a stronger incentive for companies to better manage their roadworks.
On average, 61,082 sets of roadworks take place on Hertfordshire’s roads each year, with 56% (around 34,500) carried out by utility companies.
In the last three financial years (April–March), Hertfordshire County Council issued 9,241 fines, totalling £877,880. So far this financial year, 1,078 fines have been issued, worth £105,160.