Overrunning roadworks companies fined almost £0.5m

The council said it was actively challenging companies that flouted the rules

Companies have been fined almost £500,000 for overrunning or non-compliant roadworks, which caused delays and inconvenience to motorists, a council said.

Cambridgeshire County Council said during the past year it had processed more than 32,000 street and roadwork permits, regulating when and how works could take place.

It said that while work deemed an emergency could be carried out without notifying the council, it retained "powers to challenge how long emergency and urgent works remain in place".

It said it was "taking firm action to reduce disruption on the county's roads" and had issued fines totalling £483,000 to utility companies and developers.

This included penalties for breaching the conditions of permits and more than 200 works that overran the agreed time, resulting in 1,191 extra days of disruption for road users and residents, the council said.

Using its powers to question the length of time taken to complete work deemed as an emergency, the council said more than 1,460 permits were challenged for requesting excessive duration, which was more than 25% of all emergency permits.

There are 51 utility companies entitled to work on roads managed by the county council.

Alex Beckett, the Liberal Democrat chair of the council's highways committee, said: "Fully preventing disruption isn't possible as utility companies and developers have a legal right to carry out work on our roads, especially in emergencies. These powers are necessary to protect public safety and essential services, but they aren't beyond challenge.

"Where we do have powers, we are using them. We are rejecting poorly planned permits, issuing fines for non-compliance, and holding those responsible to account, and last year's figures show we're not afraid to take action."