Companies face charges for peak-time roadworks

Companies could be charged for carrying out roadworks on busy routes at peak times

Utility companies and contractors could soon be charged thousands of pounds for causing disruption on Kirklees' busiest roads.

A lane rental scheme would allow the council to charge firms a daily fee when working on the most traffic-heavy roads at the busiest times.

This could see organisations charged up to £2,500 per day, though there would be some exceptions allowing for emergency work or projects of national importance.

A report to next week's cabinet meeting says that the aim is to incentivise faster, more efficient roadworks and minimise disruption to road users.

Kirklees Council hopes the move will lead to a wider behavioural change in how roadworks are planned and carried out across the district, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The report says that "by introducing financial disincentives for disruptive works on critical roads during peak times, the scheme aims to reshape the practices of utility companies, developers and internal council 'works' teams in the way in which they plan and deliver their works".

The council says it will set up a Surplus Income Board to determine the use of any surplus revenue generated by the scheme.

Before such a scheme can come into force, it must receive approval from the Secretary of State for Transport.

While specific areas that would be affected by Kirklees' scheme are not detailed in the report, it explains that the restrictions would apply to 10% of the total length of the district's roads.

Works outside of restricted times would be subject to a permit under the council's existing permit scheme, which is used to manage and coordinate activities on the highways.

Currently, there are four lane rental schemes in operation in England, with these rolled out by Transport for London, Kent County Council, Surrey County Council and West Sussex County Council, according to the government.

This number could soon be increasing, with all five councils in West Yorkshire currently developing their own schemes.

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