Department for Transport consults on operation of lane rental scheme for roadworks

The Department for Transport has published a consultation and draft guidance to local authorities outlining how they could implement lane rental schemes to cut disruption on the roads.

Under the schemes, councils could charge utility companies for digging up roads at peak times. The companies could avoid charges by carrying out works during quieter periods or – if appropriate – at night.

Any councils that want to put in place a lane rental scheme will need to gain approval from the DfT. The Department is also proposing that the schemes should initially be used in one urban and one non-metropolitan area, so as to gather evidence on the effectiveness of the arrangements.

The DfT said that any charges must be avoidable and proportionate to the costs of congestion. The charges will be subject to a proposed maximum of £2,500 a day.

“Councils are also being encouraged to apply the same principles to their own works and come forward with lane rental schemes which fit the needs of their local area,” it added.

Local authorities would be required to use any revenue raised from the charges to fund measures reducing future road works disruption. These might include infrastructure work, research or measures improving the management of works.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Everyone knows how frustrating it can be when you are sat in a traffic jam, unable to get to work or drop off the children at school because someone is digging up the road.

"This disruption is expensive as well as inconvenient, with one estimate valuing the loss to the economy from road works congestion at £4 billion a year. We simply cannot afford this.”

Hammond said the proposals would incentivise utility companies and councils to carry out works at times that cause the minimum disruption.

Lane rental pilot schemes were operated in Camden and Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2004, but no further schemes have since been implemented.

“As a result of subsequent changes to various aspects of street works legislation, the existing lane rental Regulations are now out of date and, in effect, inoperable,” the DfT said.

Responding to the DfT announcement, Cllr Shona Johnstone, Vice-Chair of the Local Government Association’s Economy and Transport Programme Board, said: “Councils have long called for the power to introduce lane rental schemes to ease roadwork congestion during rush-hour, so Philip Hammond’s announcement is a step in the right direction.

“However, trialling the initiative first is unnecessary, this is a good idea so let’s just get on with it. And requiring each scheme to be approved by Whitehall civil servants, potentially hundreds of miles away from the areas in question, smacks of needless red tape. Councils know the pressures of their local roads, there’s no need for this extra bureaucracy.”

She also pointed to issues such as “different companies digging up then relaying the same stretch at different times, or contractors overrunning or botching a job and leaving a damaged surface in their wake”.

According to the LGA, repairing such damage costs taxpayers an estimated £70m a year.

“Councils need to be given powers to address these issues, including allowing them to take a ‘bond’ or deposit from utility companies so if they don’t do the job properly councils can more easily recoup the costs of repair,” Cllr Johnstone added.

The consultation will close on 31st October 2011.