It’s time to end the roadworks free-for-all
- sarahmkm
- May 31
- 3 min read
Few apparently small issues come up more often on the doorstep in local elections than the state of our roads. Jonathan Hulley, Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways on Surrey County Council, offers a programme of constructive suggestions, including his support for a Conservative MP's private members' Bill currently before Parliament.
Every Conservative councillor and MP hears it on the doorstep: roadworks are out of control.
Utility companies too often tear up roads without proper repaving, because the fine they pay is not a deterrent, and increasingly without seeking permission and without local coordination, often leading to the same road being dug up repeatedly by different companies.
In my role as Deputy Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways at Surrey County Council, I see the impact daily. Endless congestion, poor signage, missed deadlines — and a nagging sense that no one is taking responsibility.
It’s time we put that right.
That’s why I fully support the Transport (Duty to Cooperate) Bill recently introduced by Runnymede and Weybridge MP, Dr Ben Spencer. This Private Members’ Bill would require local authorities and utility companies to work together properly, ending the disjointed and disruptive practices that so often bring our roads to a standstill.
The reality is stark. In Surrey alone, there were more than 32,000 utility works in the past year — an average of 88 a day. The estimated cost to residents? Over £35 million. And that’s without counting the frustration, missed appointments, or lost productivity.
Surrey has not stood still.
We’ve established a Streetworks Taskforce to drive improvements in coordination, accountability and public communication. It brings together water, energy, and telecoms companies and focuses on five clear priorities:
Coordinating works to reduce disruption
Better joint working with councils
Clearer, earlier communication with residents
Online mapping of planned works
And rapid escalation routes when things go wrong
It’s already making a difference. The Department of Transport has picked up on this good practice and has invited Surrey to participate in a national working group looking into the practices of utility companies on our roads.
Because the truth is that local initiative can only go so far. Without a national framework to enforce cooperation, too many utility companies will continue to treat road access as their right — not a privilege that comes with obligations.
That’s why I welcome Dr Spencer’s Bill. But I also believe it must be the start, not the end, of a serious rethink.
First, we must tighten the rules around so-called “emergency” works. Too often, companies bypass permit systems under the guise of urgency — when the real emergency is their own poor planning. Councils need the power to challenge this and ensure all works, wherever possible, are planned, communicated, and coordinated.
Second, we must reform Section 81 of the New Roads and Street Works Act. Utility companies are far too slow to fix broken or noisy drain covers, leaving residents to endure weeks of clattering or worse. Local authorities should have clear powers to enforce repairs — and levy fines when deadlines are missed.
Third, we need mandatory on-site signage that clearly states who is doing the work, why, and for how long. It sounds simple, but too often residents face road closures with no explanation. Transparency isn’t just good manners — it’s essential to restoring public confidence.
Let’s be clear: this is not about bashing utility companies. They perform a vital function. But the current system puts their convenience ahead of the public interest. That’s not sustainable — and it’s not fair.
As Conservatives, we believe in responsibility, accountability, and common sense. Those values must apply on our roads too. The public deserves a transport system that works — not one held hostage by poor planning and utility company indifference.
Dr Spencer’s Bill is an important step. Let’s back it — and let’s go further, with real reform, real enforcement, and real change.
It’s time to get Britain moving again — and put the needs of road users first.
Jonathan Hulley is an Executive Committee member of the Society of Conservative Lawyers. He is also a leading social housing lawyer and was the Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Twickenham in July 2024.
The Society of Conservative Lawyers, an association of lawyers who support or are sympathetic to the aims of the Conservative Party. Members hold a range of different views within those parameters and the views expressed in its publications are only those of their authors, and not necessarily held by all members of the Society or by the Conservative Party. The views expressed in this post are those of the authors alone, who take sole responsibility for all errors and omissions.
