Call for Evidence

The Transport Committee is examining the effect of street works by utility companies on the maintenance of roads and pavements, and the effectiveness of local authorities’ tools for managing the impact of works, minimising the number of interventions that take place and ensuring good quality remediation. The Committee welcomes written evidence that addresses:

a. The effect of utility works on road and pavement surface quality and on maintenance needs and costs, and how local authorities can manage this.

b. Whether local authorities have sufficient powers and resources to manage the effect of street works on congestion, travel disruption, pavement access and accessibility.

c. The effectiveness of processes for notification of works and obtaining permits, including the classification of emergency works and opportunities for coordinated works, and what makes for a good working relationship between utility companies and highway authorities.

d. Whether fines are a sufficient deterrent to poor practice, whether other enforcement mechanisms would work better, and whether the inspections regime introduced in 2023 has improved the quality of reinstatement works.

e. Whether lane rental is a successful model, the potential merits of making it available in more areas, and what other tools or best practices could be more widely adopted.