A scheme designed to reduce congestion and improve traffic management on North Yorkshire’s roads comes into effect this week.
The permit scheme, which will be implemented from 7 February, is being introduced by North Yorkshire County Council to improve the control and management of work across the county’s roads.
Previously, utilities companies such as electricity, water, gas and telecoms had only to notify the County Council of intended work. The council could provide direction and apply penalties if a company breached the notice, but had limited control over when work was done.
Under the permit scheme, all scheduled work must be granted a permit and the County Council has greater ability to ensure that work in the same area does not clash and that, where possible, jobs avoid peak times of day and busy times of year. It can impose conditions, such as the rapid removal of equipment and signs after work is completed, and impose penalties for breaching conditions or working without a permit.
Companies will pay for a permit and discounts will give them an incentive to work outside peak times and to co-operate with other utilities that need to work in the same area.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, said:
Our main objective with this scheme is to cut congestion and to reduce delays for the travelling public. We recognise that utility companies need to have access to their equipment under the highway in order to maintain supplies to their customers. On the other hand, highways work can cause delays and inconvenience to the public and to businesses. The permit scheme will increase the ability of the County Council to manage and co-ordinate those activities to the benefit of all road users.
People who live or work in North Yorkshire can keep up to date with work on the county’s roads via the council’s website, www.northyorks.gov.uk/roadworks
A searchable, interactive map enables them to click on existing and planned road works to read details of the works, including dates, the likely impact and which organisation is doing them. People can also sign up to receive email alerts for road works in their area.
Fine them if they don’t fix the road to a high standard after they’ve finished. I’m fed up of these third world roads battering my car to bits not helped by sloppy repairs by utilities.