More than 1,000 proposals for disruptive roadworks in North Tyneside have been stopped or changed in the first year of a council scheme to help reduce congestion and control what happens on the borough’s highways.
In February 2015, North Tyneside Council was the first local authority in the region to operate a permit system for the management of activities on the public highway.
The scheme – run for the council by its partner Capita – seeks to provide greater control and co-ordination of highway activities, minimising unnecessary delays.
Organisations, such as telecoms providers and utility companies, are now required to obtain a permit in advance if they want to: dig up a road; introduce temporary traffic signals; do work at a traffic sensitive time in a traffic sensitive area; or carry out works that require a road closure, traffic regulation order or suspension of a pedestrian crossing.
Where emergency works are needed, roadworks can be introduced without permission but notification must be given within two hours.
In the first 12 months of the scheme, 1,130 out of 11,759 permit requests were either refused or modified.
Cllr John Harrison, cabinet member for Housing and Transport, said: “It’s really important that we have an effective highway system to help ensure North Tyneside is a great, place to live, work and visit.
“The huge investment that’s currently underway in our road network will reduce congestion now and for the future.
“But it’s also important that we co-ordinate the many organisations that on a daily basis need to work on our roads. I’m pleased that our team is making good use of its powers to minimise disruption to road users.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Capita Local Government, part of Capita plc, is dedicated to delivering outsourcing and professional services to the local government market and responsible for operating all of Capita's major local government and education partnerships. Employing over 8,000 people, Capita Local Government delivers a wide range of specialist services, including customer management, property development and regulatory services, educational transformation and support services and back office processing. Capita Local Government can also draw on specialist capabilities, such as ICT, HR and payroll from across the wider Capita group, to ensure the very best market knowledge and outcomes are achieved for customers.
In November 2012 the company entered into a partnership with North Tyneside Council to deliver a range of technical services: engineering; property; planning; building control and public protection.