Today I submitted by response to the Government consultation on Street works. Too many residents face unnecessary daily delays and disruption due to street works which is having an increasingly serious negative impact on our communities.
In response to my recent survey of residents, 90% of respondents stated they had regularly faced delay and disruption from local road and street works. 69% have experience delays getting to work. 35% have been delayed getting their children to school. 22% have missed or been late for medical appointment due to the disruption. And 20% state their business or income has been negatively affected.
This issue is affecting jobs, education, access to healthcare and the broader economy, and more action is needed. While I support the Government proposals for extra measures and strengthened enforcement, I believe the plans could go further. I would welcome:
- Stronger financial penalties for poorly managed or poor quality street works.
- Expansion of enforcement powers to also consider disruption caused due to inaction or long-term underinvestment in utilities infrastructure.
- Allowing overrun charges to apply at weekends and bank holidays.
- Reform of highways funding to reflect road usage, so we have adequate funds to meet road maintenance and repair needs.
- Mandatory co-ordination and consideration of the cumulative effect of street works, road works, and diversion routes.
- Serious consideration of changes to ensure no licenses for non-essential street works could be granted in the vicinity of diversion routes.
You can see my full consultation response below.
I want to thank everyone who has contacted me on these issues and who shared their views and priorities with me. I will continue to campaign to deliver improvements across our transport networks so Runnymede and Weybridge remains the best place to live and work.
