Rendel: Roadwork rage

Holes in the road could become less of a pain in the neck if the recommendations of a powerful Commons committee are taken on board.

In a report published on Thursday, the Commons public accounts committee said gas, water, electricity, communications and sewerage firms should be made to work together to ease congestion on the UK's roads.

Greater regulation of the utility companies' maintenance programmes could dramatically reduce the congestion caused by roadworks, the MPs argue.

The MPs say that too many firms cause disruption through roadworks - which are soon followed by other firms that re-open recently closed holes in the road.

The committee says that the regulatory bodies must do more to encourage utility firms to limit the effects of maintenance work.

It says the regulators should include the benefit of sharing works in their price-setting calculations.

Currently companies whose maintenance operations over-run can face fines.

But the MPs say the regulators should be more pro-active in policing the effects of maintenance work.David Rendel, the Liberal Democrat MP and member of the committee, said the public would welcome moves to halt the never-ending cycle of roadworks.

"The constant roadworks caused by one utility after another digging up the same piece of road infuriates everyone. The extra congestion costs us all money, and adds to atmospheric pollution." he said.

"When I raised this issue during our hearing, the regulators told us that they did not see this as part of their role. I hope that this report will persuade them that it should be.''

Derek Turner, managing director of Transport for London Street Management, welcomed the committee's recommendations.

He told ePolitix.com: "This is a very timely and welcome recommendation."

He added: "Transport for London Street Management has today been given the go-ahead to extend the exerimental 'lane rental' scheme for utility companies to TfL roads in the London Borough of Camden."