The money raised from charges will be kept by authorities. Notes to editors Utility companies, including gas, water, electricity, telecommunications and cable companies, have statutory rights to place their equipment in roads. From time to time they need to dig up the road to install, repair or replace their equipment. These street works, whilst necessary, can cause delay and inconvenience to road users and to local residents. We will consult on options for an incentive system, with penalties, to minimise disruption to all road users, and to encourage improved co-ordination of street works.
Authorities have the power to challenge a deadline if they consider that it is too long.
At present a utility does not incur any penalty if works are not finished in time. The busier the road, the higher the fine. Although the powers only apply to England for the time being, the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are considering the need to introduce similar powers in their areas. This is a technical document aimed at utilities and highway authorities and replaces a earlier code which has now been tightened up in the light of the increasing number of works being carried out. This places a number of requirements on such bodies, in particular that works being carried out by different utilities and authorities should be co-ordinated together so as to minimise the disruption to road users.