Tuesday 24 June 2014
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
I understand Environment is now consulting with utilities and telcos about plans to introduce a charge for road works.
How is the department this charge will work, what level will it be set at, when will it be introduced?
Can the department give a further breakdown of why roadwork management costs £350,000? How much does it cost per road work on average?
This would be for tomorrow's paper
Environment Department Response:
The Environment Department has, for some time, been considering the means by which charges might be introduced for recovering the costs of coordinating road works and managing the closure of roads. In the near future the organisations most closely concerned with this matter will be invited to attend a presentation of the Department's proposals. Details of the options under consideration will become available following this meeting.
Recovery of costs for this type of operation is permitted in law; however, the Environment Department may also impose penalty costs for failure to comply with any conditions that it may stipulate in respect of road works.
Annual expenses for the Department amounting to £350,000 represent an estimate of costs based upon staffing (£100,000), Signs and Lines (£150,000), IRIS (the software package used to publicise road closures) (£75,000) and sundry other expenses.
There is no meaningful average road works cost as the closure system covers everything from closing a road for a furniture removal vehicle, through to closing a pavement or part of a road for scaffolding or skips to small, intermediate or large closures of carriageways or full roads for a wide range of time durations to accommodate road works. Some require significant diversions and signage, some require minimal signage.
In 2013 2,276 permits were issued to close a road, pavement or part of a road/pavement, as well as traffic management measures and obstruction permissions for scaffolding, skips, etc.
Contact Information:
Chris Hurley, Director of Traffic and Environmental Services
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
