Councillor Howards Sykes MBE, Liberal Democrat and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council, tells of how large utility companies take council highway restrictions for granted.  

This revelation is detailed in a freedom of information request (FOI) to Oldham Council.   Large companies like Cadent, United Utilities and Virgin Media have all repeatedly broken regulations on local roadworks in Oldham Borough.  They have blocked up roads for longer than they said they would and so have been given a fine.  The road closures affect the ability of residents and businesses to go about daily life.  The FOI shows that current council fines, the levels of which are set by national government do not act as a deterrent to delays.

Because these large companies can absorb the fines, they are able to keep breaching the regulations.  In the year 2017/18 the roadworks overran 123 times and in 2018/19 it was a total of 62 times.

Councillor Sykes says unless councils are allowed to increase the fines or create new penalties, the problem will continue. 

“People often ask why roads works are not co-ordinated – well they are – but these utility companies clearly often over run or in some cases do not even inform the council of repairs they are undertaking,” stated Councillor Sykes.

“The situation will not improve unless the fines have real bite.  This is a problem across the country.  “If the rules are being broken and ignored, then we must change the system,” he added.