Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to local authorities on reducing the impact of road works on individuals and businesses; and what funding they have made available to support that guidance.
Under sections 59 and 60 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, highway authorities have a general duty to co-ordinate all street and road works on their networks and statutory undertakers have a general duty to use their best endeavours to co-operate with such actions. A Code of Practice entitled ‘Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters’ supports the delivery of these obligations. It can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/street-works-co-ordination.
The Traffic Management Act 2004 enables highway authorities to manage works proactively on the highway by operating a street works permit scheme, where a permit to undertake works needs to be approved prior to those works taking place. Over 65% of local highway authorities in England operate a permit scheme and the Government has requested that the remaining highway authorities introduce schemes.
The Department is funding the £10m Street Manager project to improve the way that information on works is exchanged and how data is collected and shared. The project will enable better co-ordination and generate data which can be used to inform the public about planned and live works.