HAVERING’S NEW ROADWORKS CRACKDOWN: COMPANIES COULD FACE £2,500 A DAY TO DIG UP BUSY ROADS
Havering Council has approved a ‘lane rental scheme’ that it hopes will reduce congestion from roadworks writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.
Under the new policy, highway companies will pay for each day a road is closed between 7am and 10am, and 3pm and 7pm.
The council says the aim is to “encourage better planning,” which will mean less disruption and fewer delays for motorists.
Around 12% of Havering’s road network would be affected.
The scheme was green-lit at a cabinet meeting last night (14th October).
Councillor Alex Sibley, the cabinet member for highways, said residents frequently complained to the council that roadworks “seem to last forever”.
He said: “A set of temporary traffic lights arrives, starts a family, and settles down before the work is finished.
“The lane rental scheme is designed to encourage utilities companies to get in, get the job and get out again – specifically on our busiest roads and at our busiest times.”
Roads classed high-importance would carry a daily charge of up to £2,500, while companies would be charged £1,500 for medium-importance roads and £1,000 for the lowest, as per traffic-flow data.
There would be some exceptions – for example, fees will be waived for the first 24 hours of “genuine immediate emergency works”.
Around 100 roads would be affected, according to a report published last week, including several stretches of Main Road, North Street and Hornchurch’s high street.
The Emerson Park ward councillor acknowledged some companies may “rush jobs,” but he was “confident this will not be the case” as the new administration “will not tolerate mistakes on its road”.
Based on council data from 2022/23, it would cost utility companies £977,500 and highways companies £442,000.
That would levy a total of £1.42million for the town hall, though £200,000 has been earmarked for three new staff roles overseeing the scheme.
The remaining funds would be split between highway maintenance and pot-hole repairs, and other initiatives aimed at cutting congestion and helping to speed up roadworks.
Havering is not the first London authority to implement such a policy. Last year, the neighbouring Redbridge Council began charging highway companies for similar closures.
Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!
We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.
Discover more from The Havering Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Bit late to apply this ruling to gallow corner , however it should be applied to TFL for road repairs to adjoining roads around gallows corner , which have been damaged as result of the diverted traffic