Lancashire Councillors Seek Stricter Penalties for Utility Roadwork Delays

County councillors in Lancashire have stated that utility companies exceeding allotted timeframes for reinstating road surfaces after excavation should incur more substantial penalties. These councillors formally proposed a motion urging the government to raise the fees that local authorities are authorized to levy against water, power, and telecommunications companies for roadworks that extend beyond their scheduled completion. This appeal follows the disclosure of data acquired by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, indicating that 37,500 highway projects were undertaken across Lancashire over a 12-month period. Among the works conducted from April 2023 through March of the current year, 189 experienced delays, resulting in penalties amounting to nearly £343,000. Additionally, 1,337 fixed penalty notices, totaling £170,000, were issued for infractions such as violating work permits or commencing work without the necessary authorization. Ash Sutcliffe, a councillor for Pendle, commented that the mere mention of “temporary traffic lights” causes drivers to “shudder.” He asserted, “We must have the power to hold companies to account and get our roads moving again as soon as possible.” Existing legislation stipulates that the highest penalties for roadworks exceeding their schedule range from £250 to £10,000 daily, depending on the road’s importance. Nevertheless, these fines are not applicable on weekends or bank holidays, and Scott Smith, Lancashire County Council’s lead member for highways, noted that certain permit violations by utility firms can incur fixed penalty notices as low as £80. Smith remarked, “To multibillion-pound companies… it barely even registers as petty cash and the idea that it acts as a deterrent to bad behaviour on our roads is for the birds.” Council members were informed that the “bulk of the disruption” stemmed from the 20% of annual works categorized as urgent or emergency. The motion, which emphasized that any heightened penalties should not be transferred to households via their utility bills, received approval with backing from multiple political parties.