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16
Jul
Transport chief hails 'toughest possible approach' to roadworks
Transport chief Keane Duncan has hailed a proposed new roadworks system as the "toughest possible approach" to speed up work.
The Stray Ferret revealed on Sunday that North Yorkshire Council, planns to introduce a new penalty scheme to stop roadworks over-running.
The new approach, known as a lane rental scheme, would be the first of its kind in the north of England.
It would replace the current permit system, which allows firms to apply for a permit to carry out roadworks and then extend it.
The lane rental scheme has already been implemented in London and Kent to reduce traffic disruption and other councils are under pressure from government to follow.
According to the council, companies would incur daily fees of up to £2,500 for undertaking maintenance work at peak times to encourage them to minimise inconvenience.
Cllr Duncan. the council's Conservative executive member for highways and transportation, said:
Roadworks are a major source of frustration, that’s why we’re adopting the toughest possible approach in North Yorkshire.
Charging utility companies for the time they occupy the highway means we can incentivise them to complete works more efficiently and outside of peak hours.
By moving this scheme forwards, we’re doing everything within our legal power to ensure disruption for residents, visitors and businesses is minimised.
Key stakeholders will now be consulted on the scheme before an application goes to the Department for Transport for Secretary of State approval. If successful, the scheme could be in operation before the summer of next year.
North Yorkshire, which is England’s largest county, has a network of roads stretching a total of nearly 5,800 miles.
Fees raised would be used to cover costs of running the scheme, with any surplus invested into measures that reduce disruption on the highways.
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