London Mayor Boris Johnson is “battering down the Government’s doors” in a bid to force utilities companies to pay by the minute for disruption they cause on the capital’s roads.
“Surely there could be no greater incentive for the utilities to ensure they work are as speedily as possible and cause the capital the least disruption possible,” said Johnson.
Firms currently pay a one-off charge for roadworks, and since last month have been subject to a permit scheme for digging up roads, to try and get different companies to co-ordinate works on the same stretch of road at the same time. Any firm working within one of the 16 London boroughs without a permit faces a £5000 fine, or £2500 for breaking the conditions of a permit.
