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Boris Johnson wages war on firms crippling our roads
Peter Dominiczak, City Hall Correspondent21 Sep 2011
Boris Johnson today urged Londoners to help City Hall fight a "guerrilla war" against roadworks crippling the capital by reporting offending firms.
Anyone who sees disruptive or neglected roadworks is asked to name those responsible on a new website. Latest figures show 4,000 works a day bring travel chaos and cost millions in lost business.
The Mayor said he would personally reprimand company chiefs whose work is delayed or unnecessary, adding: "I am getting on the phone and telling these people to sort it out.
We will have no hesitation in naming and shaming people who do not give Londoners the standards they deserve. Roadworks are a massive headache." Under the Reportit" scheme, signs are being put on roads encouraging people to identify utility companies they think are defying a new code of practice.
About 200 traffic police community support officers allowed to impose on-the-spot fines of between £120 and £500 will inspect sites.
A City Hall source added: "It's the ultimate in guerrilla tactics. Boris feels very strongly about this. He understands how much people get frustrated by this issue."
Deputy mayor for transport, Isabel Dedring, will hold weekly roadworks summits with Transport for London experts to examine sites that have been reported and what is being done to combat them.
But the Mayor was accused of taking too long to sort out the issue. Lib-Dem Assembly member and chairwoman of the transport committee Caroline Pidgeon described the new policies as "gimmicks" and said Mr Johnson should have taken more effective action.
She said: "After three and a half years in City Hall the Mayor should have slashed roadworks by now. Instead we have just another set of gimmicks as we approach next year's elections. It is action, not words that matter when it comes to tackling London's chronic congestion." It is estimated that around 500,000 works took place across London last year.
Sources said the Mayor has already made progress. He announced plans this year to charge firms up to £2,500 a day to dig up roads.
Under the lane rental scheme, which he hopes to introduce next spring, charges of £2,500 or £800 a day, depending on the severity of congestion caused and timing, will be enforced to make firms carry out works during quiet periods, rather than rush hour.
A total of 27 boroughs have also signed up to a permit scheme, meaning large fines can be imposed when roadworks take too long.
Firms such as Thames Water have already paid out huge amounts under an existing fines system.
It was claimed today's announcement would solve the problem once and for all. "This is about pester power. This new system going to make it a lot easier for people to report problem roadworks," said a source close to the Mayor.
The source added: "There will be levels of how we respond. At first it will be fines. Then if nothing happens an official will make a call, then it could be Isabel Dedring.
"If it's needed then the Mayor will get on the phone personally and tell them to sort it out. He is determined to do this. We are not ruling out Boris turning up at a site and phoning councils to deliver maximum embarrassment and ask them why they have not done anything."
Mr Johnson said: "Like any great battle you have to plan for the next big push. We are now putting in place better ways to empower Londoners to name and shame those who blight our city with disruptive or badly managed roadworks.
These reports will be followed up with swift action to help unclog roads suffering from unnecessary delays."
City Hall insiders hinted that although Mr Johnson does not drive in London during the week, he has been made aware of continuing problems with roadworks after complaints from a number of Cabinet ministers. One said: "Michael Gove is particularly prone to texting Boris when he's stuck in traffic."
The five pledges
Roadworks must be carried out during off-peak hours wherever possible, and the road re-opened to traffic. If not, work must carry on 24 hours a day, seven days a week or in extended hours to complete them as quickly as possible.
Roadworks must be tidy and safe with a clutter-free site so it is safe for everyone.
Firms must always explain what is happening at the site using clear signs.
No excuse for leaving roadworks neglected - workers must always be active and if not, the firm must explain why.
Roadworks must take up as little road and pavement space as possible. No unnecessary use of cones, safety barriers and storage of materials.
Reader views (39)
Having flooded the streets of central London with hundreds of extra buses many of which go by 2 by 2 and removed the WEZ Boris has the cheek to have a go at roadworks!!
Boris should take a Sunday stroll past the Angel and down to Rosebery Avenue and look at the large grill in the middle of the road beneath which is a utilly subway which carries pipes and cables and was built by the Victorians in order to avoid the need to dig up the road!!
Yet again after 4 wasted years Boris thinks moaning and groaning about something HE should have dealt with makes him deserve his shilling!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 22/09/2011 12:32
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Our roads are a joke and any suggestions by any politicians that might make my journey in the capital a tiny bit more tolerable is more than welcome.
Will it have an effect, probably not because the London transport system is sick the patient is in intensive care, and only major surgery will give it a chance.
- Mr S.Port, London, 22/09/2011 01:17
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At last, somebody sees sense! I have effectively been saying what is contained within the pledges for the last fifteen years.
I would like to add though that 24 hour work cannot realistically take place in residential areas, especially if it involves drilling or digging up the tarmac.
In addition, any fines or charges should not simply 'disappear' into the London Government's revenue. It must be reinvested into roads because the road diggers are making their profits from inconveniencing the very people whom pay to use them be it through C Charge, Road Tax or bus fare.
- Carl C, London, 21/09/2011 23:50
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Get rid of cycle lanes and cyclists and reset the trffic light phasings and traffic will move more freely. - BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 13:40
WHAT cycle lanes? Oh you mean the paint on the road? Not much use in this level of traffic, so yes, get rid of it - and put some proper, curb-segregated cycle paths where there is currently under-used pavement (as people aren't walking, they are driving, bus-ing, tube-ing and even cycling). WIN/WIN. So what if pedestrians have to bunch up a little? Doesn't bother me as a pedestrian and I hate being too close to other people. Just not as much as I hate traffic holding me up when I cycle, traffic making me feel like I'm going to die every 10 minutes (understatement!) and of course, it helps cars, too. It just requires REAL political leadership and REAL street management / planning. We don't have that currently, we have tokenism.
Until the EU started giving hand outs to paint pretty lines all over the place and calling them cycle lanes, and unti Ken started altering the traffic light phasing, traffic moved reasonably well in London outsiode of peak times. NOw it is an all day mess.
- BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 15:57
Er, go back that far and I BET car use was less, so there's significantly more cars on the road, which causes most of the problem you mention, NOT (just) the modifications to the road. Get me the figures and I'll respect your argument if they don't show this...
- London Cyclist, Cycle Superhighway (Blue Paint) CS7 London, England, UK, 21/09/2011 23:35
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Crazy Hippie
Because he makes more sense than that other comunist idiot
- peter, London, 21/09/2011 18:22
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this is a good one. first this contract are won by tycoons then are passed to small companies that they must cheat the system to make profit as the tycoon to sign two contracts took 80 percent were they share to support their party and good lifestyle as been political party laundry and now they even want fine money of the workers???
- fabio, london, 21/09/2011 18:12
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Our residents association has been endavouring to get a meeting with Boris' staff for a very long time about our local roads, the traffic and condition of our roads. Companies carrying out this work are very rarely working and when they are they are more often than not talking on mobiles or standing around smoking.Only this week I again raised the issue of Utility Companies leaving the roads in Peckham in an absolutely shocking condition and the fact that the work takes so long because more often than not, there is no one on site. When you write to Boris, you are put on to people who take you for an idiot. Our Council are no better. either, our immediate side roads are swamped with traffic. They put in humps and 20MPH zones. Why and as these so called restrictions are not law, there is no one to monitor them and what a waste of money. If Boris does something about this problem I will pass out I think.
- Wendy Rother, Peckham London, 21/09/2011 17:35
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Over here in Leyton they have solved the congestion problem by doing the road works at 01:00 (AM), presumably on the principle that it's more acceptable to keep us all awake than to inconvenience the mighty motorist.
In Upper Street N1 it seems that the road or the pavement is dug up on alternate years. Is London the only capital city that buries it's essential services and digs them up again every two weeks ?
I think the rot started with the private cable companies, who all had to have their very own hole in the road.
- TinyTim, Tarmac City, London, 21/09/2011 17:35
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Perhaps if TFL under Livingstone had not reduced the amount of roadspace - and the number of lanes over the Thames bridges - this wouldn't be such an issue. even under Boris, TFL are still reducing road space in central London.
- J H Holloway, Battersea, Uk, 21/09/2011 17:32
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Why does anybody listen to a word this BUFOON has to say? Its beyond me.
- Crazy Hippie, 10 Drowning St. SW1, 21/09/2011 17:22
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What a load of old tosh. Some last minute rushed through measures to deal with something he promised to get to grips with when he was getting elected. Surprise surprise there's a Mayoral election next year and this is suddenly the masterplan.....3 yrs in the making. Useless
- Roger, Southwark, London, 21/09/2011 17:21
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- BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 15:57
BJ its also a Historical fact that cycles were around along time before cars.Perhaps in the view of historical facts its Cars that should be banned. lets face facts cars pollute in many ways (either when being built or driven) and statisically your far more likely to be killed by or in a car than on or by a cycle.
- Paul Humphreys, Essex, 21/09/2011 17:08
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Why oh why must 'services' such as cable be laid under the road, instead of under the pavement?
Understandable for big items such as water pipes, sewers and gas, but why broadband cables?
My other question relates to the current brain death of ever grinning Boris. I seem to remember he was going to fix this if elected. So why hasn't he done it? It's all the fault of the newspapers and the television because promises (and very occasionally) some action on his part, happens as a side-event to the the greater need for publicity and getting his face on television and in the newspaper. So, lack of enough news people all the time means no point in fulfilling promises, doesn't it?
- Norman Speight, London UK, 21/09/2011 17:02
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Get rid of cycle lanes and cyclists and reset the trffic light phasings and traffic will move more freely. - BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 13:40
I'll smile as I think of that comment when I cycle past the queues of motorised traffic tomorrow morning.
- James Stewart, London, 21/09/2011 16:21
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Wimbledon Broadway - three YEARS!!!!! Amazingly, every year at the tennis fortnight all the holes are filled in and the traffic works - well sort of works.
Cheapside has no works on it today6 for the first time YEARS.
I've been going to church at St. Michael's Cornhill for nearly seven years, and I cannot remember it without roadworks - they even dig up the pavements round Cornhill.
I suppose all these works help keep men in employment!
- David Davies, London, Great Britain, 21/09/2011 16:15
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Paul Humphreys, Essex: I don't like cyclists - that's all, no other agenda.
Despite the levity my proposals are actually based on historical fact. Until the EU started giving hand outs to paint pretty lines all over the place and calling them cycle lanes, and unti Ken started altering the traffic light phasing, traffic moved reasonably well in London outsiode of peak times. NOw it is an all day mess.
- BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 15:57
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Bonking Boris, the hot-air buffoon...
- ID, South Coast, UK, 21/09/2011 15:54
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Boris should pay a trip to Bounds Green roadworks on the North Circular. Nice little earner for the contractors there. It's been going on since time began.
- Simon, Londonistan, 21/09/2011 15:51
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John Major and his cone hotline spring to mind.
All hot air.
- Nora Kane, London, 21/09/2011 15:35
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"Firms such as Thames Water have already paid out huge amounts under an existing fines system."
So THAT'S the reason water bills have rocketed! Well done, Boris....
- Baron von Richtofen, Biggin Hill, 21/09/2011 15:30
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Same old story and same old result = Nothing ever done about it.
- Mike,, London and once Gt.Britain, 21/09/2011 15:00
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Get rid of cycle lanes and cyclists and reset the trffic light phasings and traffic will move more freely.
- BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 13:40
BJ I think you have 3rd reich tendancies. Someone like you in charge would ban everyone else except yourself form Travelling in London. I suggest if you can't take the heat fella, stay out of the kitchen.
- Paul Humphreys, Essex, 21/09/2011 14:58
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Name another country with so much infrastructure in private hands?
- I know why, Hackney, London, 21/09/2011 14:37
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I would suggest that it is the Government and Highways Agency who are failing to repair the pot holes in our roads that is the more pressing problem.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 21/09/2011 14:28
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It's time the roads were sorted out in London. Public transport will never cater for all needs at all times. When electric cars become the norm pollution won't be an issue. This means there will need to be an end to the rabid anti motorist policies of TFL and look at road expansion - why not use tunnelling technology to achieve some of this? In the future with "clean cars" it will be cheaper to do this than expand the expensive tube/rail systems. We need a longer term view than asking people to cycle in from Zone 6 or penalising roadworks, the real issue is underinvestment and lack of road capacity.
- H Morgan, London, 21/09/2011 14:23
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Boris' great "lane rental" scheme is a disaster waiting to happen for pedestrians. There is little or no charge for closing a pavement, so works will simply be put there. Here's what TfL themselves have to say on the expected effects:
On walking (p50):
It is unavoidable that the occupation of the pavements will increase as a result of the lane rental scheme, during peak times, for the parking of vehicles and the storage of materials.
As a consequence, there is a high probability for the lane rental to deter walking along the congestion management areas.
On cycling (p50):
One could note the risk that lane rental would allow an increased volume of traffic to flow on the TfL Road Network, travelling at higher speeds, reducing the safety and attractiveness of cycling.
So making London even worse for pedestrians and cyclists.
Cheers Boris.
- Pedestrian, London, 21/09/2011 14:10
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Can we also have a drive against under-used bus lanes that are causing traffic to pile up, please? It is quite ridiculous to see long tailbacks alongside 24 hour bus lanes.
The Mayor should also crack down on local authorities who are removing road and parking space, therefore adding to congestion. Road speeds have dropped despite there actually being a gradual decline of cars coming into London, and it isn't just roadworks that are causing the jams.
- Jools, London, 21/09/2011 13:52
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Yes, three-and-a-half years into his Mayoral term and Boris Johnson is suddenly panicking after making rash promises when he was campaigning to be elected in 2008.
Oh, hang on, is this his mate Dave's "Big Society"?
- Helen, West London, 21/09/2011 13:50
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"About 200 traffic police community support officers allowed to impose on-the-spot fines of between £120 and £500 will inspect sites"
These fines are very small beer to these mega rich multinationals, who will promptly pass them on their customers, meaning on to us. Even my dog knows that.
What about forcing these companies to work 7 days a week, 2 shifts a day, to complete jobs more quickly?
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 21/09/2011 13:48
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Get rid of cycle lanes and cyclists and reset the trffic light phasings and traffic will move more freely.
- BJ, East London, 21/09/2011 13:40
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Someone's been digging up Kilburn High Road for nearly 6 months.
- Bruce Springsteen, Darlington County, 21/09/2011 13:23
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London is an age of the horse type city. It has too many cars, people and idiotic politicians. The Olympics would never have been approved had ordinary Londoners been given a choice. Ban all private traffic and let only buses, taxis and public service vehicles use the roads and it might become half habitable.
- Charly, London, 21/09/2011 13:15
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I thought there was supposed to be an initiative to co ordinate utility companies etc so the same stretch of road was not dug up repeatedly. Making it law that foreign drivers working here have to have UK road tax and insurance on their cars would also boost the coffers for repairs.
- Steve, The Shire, 21/09/2011 13:09
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Why dont you do the job you paid to Boris instead of expecting the public on London to do it for your.If you cut back on the number of mistresses you would have plenty of time to complete your work.
- dave, london, 21/09/2011 13:01
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Don't get us to do your job Boris.
Twenty years ago I was in Tokyo and there it was illegal to work on the roads during the day. They used Kangoes padded so they hardly made a sound and had no men standing and looking down a hole, by 8oc the road was open and swept. So get real Boris. I think the road contract system in the u.k is to incestuous and things need to change.
- mike M, London, 21/09/2011 12:57
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I see he's "urged Londoners".
Why doesn't this buffoon get up off his papmered backside and actually do something about it himself?
Isn't this why people voted for him? (I didn't).
- Seymour Bwana And His Stick That Spoke Thunder., Surrey, 21/09/2011 12:53
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Lets name and shame here...
First off:
East road, 2 of the 3 traffic lanes blocked along with a footpath at the junction with City Road near Old street for the past month as the local builder "Ardmore" has a large skip on the road. I can't believe they got permission for this. Please sort it
- James, Old Street, 21/09/2011 12:53
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Get real Bojo
THIS IS A CITY WITH A VICTORIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT CANNOT BE FIXED OVERNIGHT . IT ALSO NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO DEAL WITH YOUR GOVERNMENTS POLICY OF OVERPOPULATION .
Yet more hot air .
- john, london, 21/09/2011 12:45
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Utter drivel masquerading as government for London.
Wait for the first photo opportunity of Boris waving his arms around and "wittily" blustering away next to a hole in the road and one bored navvy
- Septic, London, 21/09/2011 12:45
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