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Roadworks: Journey Times
30 October 2024
Lead MP
Lewis Cocking
Broxbourne
Con
Responding Minister
Lilian Greenwood
Tags
Defence
Word Count: 7401
Other Contributors: 8
At a Glance
Lewis Cocking raised concerns about roadworks: journey times in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP urges the Government to introduce measures from the previous consultation on lane rental schemes to reduce traffic disruption, with at least 50% of surplus funds directed towards pothole repairs. He also calls for tighter regulation on highway authorities and utility companies using emergency legislation to ensure quicker resolution of emergencies.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The MP is concerned about the significant impact of roadworks on journey times in Broxbourne, where traffic congestion costs drivers an average of £558 each and wastes 61 hours annually. This leads to economic damage, especially for those relying on cars or vans for daily commutes. The MP's constituents face delays affecting daily activities such as reaching elderly parents, fulfilling carer duties, and attending medical appointments. Additionally, there are instances where roadworks remain unattended for days or weeks despite being presented as urgent, causing frustration among residents.
Andrew Selous
Con
Hove
The MP supports the lead MP's proposal, highlighting issues with highway authority permits and emergency legislation used by utility companies. He suggests increasing fixed-penalty notices for overrunning roadworks to encourage more efficient work coordination among utilities.
Andy MacNae
Lab
Rossendale and Darwen
In Rossendale and Darwen, single trunk roads serve most of the constituency. Residents and businesses are delayed daily by roadworks, with major employers threatening to leave due to costs imposed by these works. Roadworks limit growth and impact everyday lives. The Traffic Management Act 2004 restricts penalties for overruns and lane rental schemes. The MP hopes for straightforward changes to improve regulation of roadworks.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
He praised the consensual nature of the debate and highlighted issues caused by road closures in both urban, suburban, and rural areas. He mentioned that utility companies must be held accountable for causing inconvenience to people's daily activities. He also discussed previous government initiatives such as performance-based street works regime and lane rental schemes aimed at improving road maintenance efficiency.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
In Strangford, roadworks disrupt daily life and impact businesses such as McClements' garage in Newtownards. Northern Ireland Water, the gas company, and British Telecom performed separate works on the same road without coordination. The MP suggests better co-ordination between utilities companies and performing roadwork at night or weekends to reduce disruption.
John Cooper
Con
Dumfries and Galloway
The A75 road in Dumfries and Galloway will see an 96-mile diversion due to roadworks, turning a normal 40-minute journey into a two-and-a-half-hour drive. The speaker emphasised the importance of this road for UK-wide trade connections, particularly with Northern Ireland, noting that maintenance is needed but should not be conducted without consideration for public inconvenience. He called on the Secretary of State for Scotland to visit these roads and urged for more substantial investment beyond patchwork repairs.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Cars are not the only vehicles affected by roadworks; bus services, which cannot easily reroute, suffer significant disruptions that impact timetables and passenger journeys. A 5% drop in service use due to roadwork delays can result in hundreds of missed journeys over a few weeks, affecting funding for other services. The speaker highlighted cases where roadwork-induced delays led some constituents to walk long distances daily to reach their nearest train station instead of relying on buses.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
Congratulated the hon. Friend on securing the debate, mentioned introducing a ten-minute rule Bill about regulating roadworks which he is reintroducing next week with support from the Opposition spokesman. Stressed the importance of tightening up permit issuance by highway authorities to prevent overruns. Asked the Minister if she would allow him to discuss his ten-minute rule Bill in her speech next week and whether she is willing to meet to discuss its merits.
Paul Kohler
Lib Dem
Wimbledon
He expressed concern about roadworks causing severe disruption, particularly on the A3 in Wimbledon. He highlighted a real-terms cut to the Department for Transport budget and called for better co-ordination across the transport sector to minimise network disruption. He also mentioned that utility companies are not doing enough to ensure minimal disruption during street works.
Government Response
Lilian Greenwood
Government Response
Addressed the impact of roadworks on journey times, acknowledged growing traffic congestion due to new housing developments and broadband rollout. Announced a £500 million funding increase for local authorities in 2025-26 and highlighted the Government's commitment to fixing 1 million potholes annually. Emphasised coordination between National Highways and Network Rail and the implementation of lane rental schemes to manage disruption more effectively. Discussed ongoing consultations on proposals to apply overrun charges at weekends and increase fixed penalty notice charges.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.