Roadworks fines for utility firms rise by 450% as Bucks Council increases inspections

The number of fines issued to utility firms for breaching roadworks conditions has risen by 450 per cent in a year after Buckinghamshire Council began carrying out more inspections.

The unitary authority has increased the number of inspectors patrolling the county’s roads and as of May extended inspection hours to 7am-7pm Monday-Friday and 8am-4pm over the weekend.

An increase in inspections appears to have resulted in the number of fixed penalty notices increasing over the first quarter of this financial year.

The council handed out 2,718 FPNs during this period compared to the 488 that were issued in the same three months of 2023/24.

Some 27,207 street works inspections were carried out in total between April and July 2024, which is also a large increase on the same period last year.

Currently, the fine rate for roadworks breaches is set nationally at £120, reduced to £80 for early payment, although the council said last year that it would lobby government to raise this.

The council fines utility firms for things such as failing to display the correct permit references and emergency contact details on site and not taking away traffic lights when they are no longer needed.

Other reasons include failures to implement correct traffic management, not publicising proposed works well enough and failing to remove surplus materials and equipment.

The update on the number of fines doled out by the council came in a report presented to its transport, environment and climate change select committee on September 12.

Part of it read: “The extended working hours has allowed the council to react faster to issues arising on the network, particularly ahead of peak hours on the network.

“This has resulted in better management of the network, supporting the council’s existing highways out of hours operations.”

In the report, the council confirmed that it was also working on plans to for a lane rental scheme for utility firms carrying out roadworks. Such a scheme would allow the council to impose additional charges for works on the county’s busiest roads at the busiest times.

Bucks Council said: “This encourages those undertaking works on the highway to avoid peak times, to avoid the charges, or pay the charges, completing the works in the shortest possible timeframe, the maximum for which is £2,500 a day.”

The council can also pursue court action against utility firms that breach road traffic conditions ‘where it is reasonable and proportionate to do so’.