In a bid to cut congestion on London’s streets, the city’s mayor, Boris Johnson, has persuaded utility companies to sign up to a code of conduct to cut the congestion and delays caused by roadworks.

The major firms working in the capital, including EDF Energy, Thames Water, BT, and National Grid, have agreed to abide by the code, which involves providing information boards wherever they dig up roads, as well as agreeing to work outside of peak hours where possible so as to minimize the disruption.At least one company so far, Thames Water, which is carrying out a massive programme of work to replace London’s water mains, has said it will use high-strength metal plates to cover up holes in the road so that traffic can continue as normal. This should help to ease congestion by allowing the use of whole stretches of road that would previously have been closed off. Mr Johnson is hoping that other companies will also adopt this strategy, which will help “keep people moving not fuming”.

keep people moving not fuming”Around 300,000 holes are dug in London’s roads each year by utilities companies, with inadequate regulation. Many of these cause more congestion and disruption than they should because of poor planning and lack of information for the public.Along with the major firms who have signed up to the scheme, the president of the AA, Edmund King, has also pledged his support. He emphasized that for the scheme to work it needs the input from both companies and road users. Londoners are being encouraged to do their bit in supporting the code by reporting roadwork problems – such as works that have no signage or are left untidy or unattended for more than a few days – to the Transport for London (TfL) website,  www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/reportastreetfault/newfault.aspx

Mr Johnson said, “By making these pledges the utility companies have agreed that the simply incredible situation of their being allowed to dig up any road in the capital with little notice and even less coordination must now end. The aim of the code of conduct is better coordination and far less disruption for Londoners.” He added that if a roadworks site has no information signs, people can log on to the TfL site and find out exactly what is going on.

“By making these pledges the utility companies have agreed that the simply incredible situation of their being allowed to dig up any road in the capital with little notice and even less coordination must now end. The aim of the code of conduct is better coordination and far less disruption for Londoners.” He added that if a roadworks site has no information signs, people can log on to the TfL site and find out exactly what is going on.While the scheme is voluntary, with no punishment for companies that do not comply with it, it is being tested as a pilot for a proposed permit system that could see penalties brought in.For press enquiries, please contact Peter Cooper on 020 7183 7247
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