MP is leading the charge to un-jam Valley’s roads
AN MP wants new charges on gas, electricity, water and broadband companies who dig up roads in a bid to reduce traffic jams in the rural part of his constituency.
Rossendale and Darwen MP, Sir Jake Berry wants the government to give Lancashire County Council powers to impose a fee on utility companies for excavating holes in the highway.
He believes it would deter them from imposing frequent roadworks and temporary traffic lights on roads in Rossendale causing major delays and tailbacks.
Tory backbencher, Sir Jake wants ministers to use what is known as a ‘Statutory Instrument’ to allow the county council to adopt a ‘lane rental scheme’ which would meant that utility companies would have to pay to close the road to carry out their work and repairs.
He has started an online petition called ‘Stop the gridlock in Rossendale’ which has so far attracted more than 1,000 signatures.
Sir Jake said: “Rossendale residents are rightly fed up with the constant temporary traffic lights and roadworks causing traffic chaos throughout the Valley.
“They want to be able to get to work, school and access our high streets without spending ages stuck in traffic.
“We all understand that utility companies sometimes need to do work on our roads, but why is it every week?
“Unlike other areas there’s often only one route through the Valley so any small disruption causes significant tailbacks everywhere in Rossendale.
“This new system which is already in place in London has significantly reduced congestion and delays caused by roadworks. It encourages utility companies to work together to effectively ‘rent a stretch of road’ and do everything at once rather than digging the same road up week after week
“The worst roads in terms of road works and temporary traffic lights are Bacup Road, Burnley Road, Haslingden Road and Newchurch Road.
“We’ve all felt the frustration of being stuck in traffic in Rossendale. “But what makes it worse is when you eventually get to the roadworks and there’s no one
“Residents are rightly fed up with the constant temporary traffic lights and roadworks.”
working on them. “We need to do something about this.
“These new powers would incentivise utility companies to work together and complete the job as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Minimising the disruption
for residents who are just trying to get to work or to pick their kids up from school.
“The more people who join the campaign the stronger our case to government will be for these new powers to come to Lancashire.”