WIREDGOV

Cutting road works' disruption - better training & more powers for councils

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (029) issued by The Government News Network on 21 February 2008

New proposals aimed at helping reduce disruption by ensuring that road works are carried out efficiently, safely and to the highest standards - ensuring more work is done correctly the first time round - were unveiled today by Transport Minister Rosie Winterton.

The proposals would see qualified workers being reassessed every five years to ensure their knowledge of the latest requirements and best practice is up-to-date. The move comes as the Government is also introducing new measures to help councils to limit the delays and congestion caused by road works.

Rosie Winterton said:

"Better trained road workers will mean more road works completed correctly the first time round, saving the public from further disruption and an estimated £14 million a year in repair costs for sub-standard work and associated costs such as congestion.

"We are already giving councils new powers to better co-ordinate road works and help cut disruption. Now we are taking action to help make sure that these works are carried out safely and to the highest possible standards by qualified workers.

"The reassessment process for workers I am unveiling today will mean workers and supervisors will have to keep up to date with the latest techniques and best practice if they are to remain qualified."

From 1 April, councils will be able to insist that utility companies give longer notice periods before starting road works - improving co-ordination and making it possible to prevent multiple works in the same area at the same time.

Councils will also be able to impose conditions on works, such as a ban on rush hour working and will also be to operate a permit scheme - meaning that anyone wanting to dig up the road will have to apply for a permit that will set out specific durations for the work and conditions of how and when it is carried out. Councils will be able to penalise utility companies that break the conditions.

The new proposals on training would mean that from 2010 those carrying out road works in England will have to pass a test at an approved assessment centre every five years. At the moment qualified workers simply have to complete a re-registration form and pay a fee to remain on the Street Work Qualifications Register (SWQR).

The new proposals - which are subject to a twelve-week public consultation - would also introduce new registerable qualifications for workers and supervisors involved in signing, lighting and guarding of road works.

Notes for Editors

1. For the purposes of this press release only, 'road works' refers to street works, ie works in the highway carried out by undertakers, who may have a statutory right to carry out such work .

2. The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) sets out the regulatory regime for works in the street carried out by undertakers. This was amended by the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA).

3. Statutory undertakers (mainly utility companies) have a statutory right to place, maintain or repair apparatus in or under the highway.

4. The Street Works (qualifications for supervisors and operators) Regulations 1992 set out how people can gain, register and re-register streetworks qualifications.

5. DfT intends to replace the 1992 regulations in England with a new set which help improve the safety and quality of street works. 6. The highways authorities and utilities representative body HAUC(UK) would be responsible for format of the reassessment.

7. The consultation is designed to check that utility companies and highway authorities are content with principles behind proposed changes.

8. The consultation can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/streetworksqualifications/

9. The following Regulations, coming into force from 1 April, were laid last year;

- The Street Works (Registers, Notices, Directions and Designations) (England) Regulations 2007;

-The Street Works (Fixed Penalty Notices) (England) Regulations 2007;

and.

-The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007.

10. The first replaces an existing set of Regulations and implements some of the amendments to the NRSWA made by the TMA.

11. The second introduces an alternative means of dealing with seven offences under NRSWA, which allows a highway authority to give a fixed penalty notice instead of taking a case to the Magistrates' Court.

12. The third set of Regulations - which were subject to Parliamentary debate allow a highway authority to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to operate a permit scheme on its roads. The Permits scheme strengthens the tools at local authorities' disposal to carry out their network management duty under the Act.

13. In developing the new Regulations, the DfT has worked with the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)). All these Regulations will apply to local highway authorities and undertakers working in England only.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk