Control of road works to be taken over by council (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Control of road works to be taken over by Merton Council

3:40pm Monday 14th January 2013 in News By Lauren May, Chief Reporter

Road works in Merton will now be co-ordinated by Merton Council after a successful application to the Department for Transport.

From January 14 utility companies and highway contractors will have to apply to the council before carrying out any works replacing the current notice system.

The move will give the council greater powers to control and co-ordinate multiple road works across the borough in a bid to minimise disruption and the concentration of road works in one area at the same time.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration said:"Now we are in more control over when and how road works are carried out in Merton, road users will see fewer days of disruption and therefore less traffic congestion.

"This is good news, as we know congestion is a concern for many residents, and we are now in a better position to influence the impact of road works on traffic flow."

The London Permit Scheme was introduced by the Mayor of London in 2010 and was designed to give councils greater control over when road works are carried out.

For more information on road works in Merton visit merton.gov.uk/roadworks.htm