Firms fined £850,000 over late Shropshire roadworks

The fines relate to 268 sites in the area covered by Shropshire Council, where works have gone beyond "the reasonable time-frame".

It also emerged today that one in four roadworks carried out by the companies does not meet council standards.

Utilities companies have to apply for permits to carry out the work, which also set out the time by which roads should be reopened.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for highways, said that a new inspection team has led to a "dramatic increase" in the number of sites identified and that since April penalties of £858,975 have been imposed. The authority has found a number of companies who are "performing poorly".

He said: "Our team is working with them to improve their performance as each instance causes disruption to our residents."

Shropshire Council is responsible for around 5,150km of roads. The fines total relates to penalties agreed since April this year, although the work itself may have taken place before that time. The council says fines are issued when work continues without a sufficient reason or if equipment is left.

The fines range from £250 to £10,000 per day and depend on where the work was taking place, and how busy the road is.

Shropshire Council sends utility companies a list of potential charges owed each month. It says the amount of work that does not meet standards is declining.

Councillor Jones added:: "In 2011 the failure rate of these tests was at 53 per cent however once more samples were taken this lead to a decrease in performance which saw the pass rate drop to 24 per cent in 2014; however following a push with the utility companies and the identification of the key reasons for failure the latest phase has a pass rate of 75 per cent; while it is still one in four reinstatements failing the service is pushing the performance in the right direction."

Steve Brown, Shropshire Council's highways and transport manager, said: "Roadworks by utility companies are essential to maintain and improve our infrastructur.

"But as they can cause disruption and inconvenience to road users they shouldn't be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary."

"Our permit scheme ensures that we know exactly what work the utility companies plan to carry out, and that we can agree a reasonable length of time in which the works must be completed. The charge for overrunning works helps to ensure that the utility companies complete and clear their sites within the agreed timescales."