Havering Council approves lane rental scheme for roadworks
Highway firms will pay daily charges for road closures during peak hours, aiming to reduce disruption.
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The article explains why the scheme matters, names affected roads, and quotes a responsible councillor.
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Havering Council has given the go-ahead for a lane rental scheme intended to cut down on congestion caused by roadworks. Under the new policy, companies carrying out works on the highway will be required to pay daily charges for closing roads during busy periods. The scheme aims to encourage better planning by utility and highway companies, leading to less disruption for motorists. Approximately 12% of Havering’s road network will be subject to the new charges.
The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 14. Councillor Alex Sibley, cabinet member for highways, stated that residents have often expressed frustration over the prolonged duration of roadworks. He explained that the lane rental scheme is designed to incentivise companies to complete their work efficiently, particularly on busy roads and during peak travel times. The charges are tiered based on the importance of the road, with high-importance roads incurring a daily fee of up to £2,500, medium-importance roads costing £1,500, and low-importance roads £1,000. These charges are determined by traffic-flow data.
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Exceptions to the charges will apply, including a waiver for the first 24 hours of genuine emergency works. A report indicated that around 100 roads could be affected, including sections of Main Road, North Street, and Hornchurch High Street. Councillor Sibley acknowledged concerns that companies might rush jobs but expressed confidence that this would not occur, stating the new administration would not tolerate errors on its roads.
Based on council data from the 2022/23 period, the scheme is estimated to generate £1.42 million annually. This figure includes £977,500 from utility companies and £442,000 from highway companies. A sum of £200,000 from the generated funds has been allocated for the creation of three new staff positions to oversee the scheme. The remaining revenue will be directed towards highway maintenance, pothole repairs, and other initiatives aimed at reducing congestion and expediting roadworks.
Havering Council is not the first local authority in London to introduce such a measure. Redbridge Council implemented a similar policy last year, charging highway companies for road closures.
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Questions this report answers
+What is the new lane rental scheme in Havering?
Havering Council has approved a lane rental scheme where highway companies must pay daily charges for closing roads during peak hours. This policy aims to reduce congestion and encourage more efficient planning of roadworks.
+How much will highway companies have to pay?
Charges range from £1,000 per day for low-importance roads to £2,500 per day for high-importance roads. These fees apply during peak traffic hours, specifically between 7am and 10am, and 3pm and 7pm.
+What will the money generated by the scheme be used for?
The scheme is expected to generate £1.42 million annually. These funds will be allocated to highway maintenance, repairing potholes, and implementing other initiatives designed to reduce congestion and speed up roadworks.
+Are there any exceptions to the charges?
Yes, fees will be waived for the first 24 hours in cases of genuine immediate emergency works. The scheme is designed to encourage efficiency while allowing for necessary emergency repairs.
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