Councillor speaks out on third-party roadworks near Stafford

Roadworks in the county town have been a bone of contention for drivers, businesses and residents for a number of years, with temporary traffic control systems leading to journey delays for many.

Last month, the latest phase of Staffordshire Council’s A34 improvement works began south of the town centre, which includes a one-way road closure between Queensville Roundabout and Riverway Junction until mid-October. 

Councillor Ann Edgeller, who represents the south east of Stafford, has spoken out about disruption caused by non-county council works on the highways however.

At the full county council meeting on July 17, she asked: “What can be done about utilities coming in and putting traffic lights throughout Stafford, and probably throughout the county, and using their emergency powers to say it’s got to be done? 

"I understand sometimes there are emergencies taking place, but this is causing absolute mayhem throughout the county.

“We as councillors are not informed of these works and it’s very difficult to explain to the public when we don’t know anything about it. 

"What can we do to stop these utilities coming in and putting traffic lights everywhere, especially when we have major roadworks taking place?”

Councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for strategic highways, said: “I totally agree with you on utilities as it is an absolute disgrace that they can just come in, dig up the road and tell us two hours after that they have done it. 

"I don’t think the public realise that and I think it is an education piece we need to take out to the public.

“I am actually working on a communication piece around this very topic. 

"I am also working on a strategy to lobby the local MPs to take this back to central Government to try and get it changed so we are left in control of managing work on our highways.”

On Tuesday, July 22, the council’s Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee set up a network management working group to consider issues further. 

Committee chair Councillor Sean Bagguley said at the meeting: “At a work programme planning session in June it was proposed that a network management working group be established to investigate the relationship between Staffordshire County Council and its stakeholders in managing the network, especially with regards to the permit duration for road closures.”

A roadworks information page on the county council website said: “Third party works usually involve utility companies and other works promoters such as developers and we are fortunate that these companies recognise the need to reduce the impact of their works on communities.

“The provision of reliable, safe, efficient utility services including gas, water, electricity and telecommunications requires both maintenance and improvement works to assets used to supply these essential services that we all rely on. 

"The majority of utility apparatus is located within the public highway and whilst every effort is made to minimise disruption whilst repair and improvement works take place it is inevitable that there will be some disruption to traffic even with the best managed works.

“Utility companies understandably wish to assure that they can continually provide their essential supplies and to enable them to do so means they have a legal right to work in the highway. 

"Utility providers do not require the permission of the highway authority to undertake works as this is given by licence from the Secretary of State, to enable them to comply with their own governing service supply legislation.”