Like many of you, I am extremely unhappy about the number of disruptive roadworks taking place at the moment, often with no one doing any work on them.
The recent roadworks in Sundridge have been a case in point - huge traffic queues have taken place over the weekend, and this morning, and nothing appears to be happening for much of that time. Ditto in Swanley, where we’ve got massive queues next to Asda because of the roadworks, one of which I was caught up in last weekend on the way to the Remembrance Service. There are lots of other examples all over the constituency.
At my last meeting with Cllr Perry Cole, Kent County Council for Swanley, he brought Kent County Council officers to brief me on the problems being experienced throughout the constituency by utility companies not complying with the terms of their work permits. They confirmed there has been a sharp increase in utility companies failing to comply with the terms of their work permits and leaving repairs unresolved until they become an emergency. They also explained there is too often a disconnect between sub-contracted traffic management teams and the actual work teams which has resulted in multiple situations where the road is closed but no work actually being done. This is completely unacceptable.
I have asked KCC to supply me with all the information on the utility companies which regularly breach work permits in the constituency so I can challenge the companies directly, and this week I will be raising my concerns with the Road Minister to see what stronger measures can be put in place to deal with breaches of work permits.
I will keep you all updated.
