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09
Jul
'Toughest possible' roadworks system could be introduced on local roads this year
A new system designed to speed up roadworks by charging companies more to dig up roads could be in place by the end of the year, according to North Yorkshire’s new highways chief.
Cllr Malcolm Taylor said the council expected to hear from government this month (July) whether its application to introduce a lane rental scheme has been approved.
Under the system, companies could be charged up to £2,500 per day to work on roads and incur additional fees if they overrun.
The current system allows firms to apply for a permit to carry out roadworks and then extend it.
The Stray Ferret revealed Harrogate Spring Water paid just £600 for a permit to undertake roadworks for its pipeline project that has already caused significant delays at the Curious Cow roundabout in Killinghall, with further long-term disruption expected.
During his time in charge of highways Cllr Keane Duncan was an enthusiastic proponent of the lane rental scheme, which he said amounted to the “toughest possible action under current legislation to control roadworks and mitigate the disruption they so often cause to motorists”.
Cllr Malcolm Taylor
In his first report to councillors since succeeding Cllr Duncan as executive member for highways and transportation last month, Cllr Taylor said the council had submitted its application to the Department for Transport by the March 31 deadline.
He added:
This was the culmination of over 18 months of project development and preparation. The DfT is currently assessing our application, and we are in dialogue with their economists, providing clarification on some technical aspects of our proposed scheme. We should know in July whether we have been successful, which I hope and expect will be the case.
Assuming a positive DfT announcement in July, a North Yorkshire Council lane rental scheme should be live around December this year, and this will provide us with the ability to manage the impact of disruption from utility and other works, more effectively, on our busiest roads.
New car park system
Cllr Taylor’s report also gives an update on the new parking pay and display machines being installed in the Victoria and Jubilee multi-storey car parks in Harrogate and elsewhere in the county this summer.
It says:
The current barrier-controlled systems are at end of life and presented a business risk which the new machines will overcome. Procurement for the countywide machine replacement programme is being taken forward following the approval of £2.5m of capital investment in April.
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