Wandsworth to benefit from new road works regulations

Residents occupying flats to rent in Wandsworth will see extensive benefits from new regulatory changes that could help prevent them being unduly inconvenienced by road works.

Wandsworth Council has welcomed the Department for Transport's decision to back new laws that would mean utility companies which dig up busy roads during peak times would face significant levies.

Affecting most of the Transport for London-managed red routes in the capital, the legal change would involve gas and electricity companies being charged much lower rates for agreeing to carry out their road works overnight and during off-peak periods.

This follows extensive discussions among local council leaders on how holdups caused by utility companies can be minimised, with various measures having been employed in recent years.

In the last year, Wandsworth Council fined energy firms more than £150,000 because of unreasonable delays in finishing their work, while much effort has been dedicated to ensuring motorists are provided with plenty of warning about potential disruptions.

Council leader Ravi Govindia accepted that the majority of the road works are unavoidable, especially in the case of gas leaks or burst water mains, but maintained that such jobs should be completed as quickly as possible and with the minimum level of disruption.

He said: "These new powers will mean that on London's red route network at least, a much stronger economic inducement will be offered to the utilities to undertake their works during off peak hours and so reduce the level of disruption they cause to drivers, bus passengers, cyclists and businesses."

Earlier this month, the council announced that £72 million is going to be invested into new improvements to homes and neighbourhoods over the next three years, a project that is designed to make Wandsworth a more attractive place to live, while improving amenities for existing residents.

Posted by Martyn Glynn

Published 30th January, 2012

© 2012 Estates IT Limited