Havering Council approves £1.4m roadworks charge scheme

Firms undertaking roadworks that require road closures in Havering will now face daily charges under a new £1.4 million scheme approved by the council. The policy, known as a lane rental scheme, was green-lit at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening. Its stated aim is to encourage companies to plan works more effectively and reduce the disruption and delays experienced by motorists.

Daily Charges and Road Classification

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Under the lane rental scheme, companies will be charged based on the importance of the road affected. High-importance roads will incur a daily fee of up to £2,500, while medium-importance roads will cost £1,500 per day, and the lowest-importance roads will be charged £1,000 daily. These classifications will be determined by traffic-flow data. Councillor Alex Sibley, the cabinet member for highways, stated that the policy is designed to prompt utility companies to complete their work efficiently, particularly on busy roads during peak times, addressing resident complaints about prolonged roadworks.

The council has indicated that approximately 100 roads across Havering will be subject to the new policy, representing about 12% of the borough's road network. Specific streets mentioned as likely to be affected include stretches of Main Road, North Street, and Hornchurch's high street. Exceptions will be made for genuine immediate emergency works, with fees waived for the first 24 hours.

Financial Projections and Fund Allocation

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The scheme is projected to generate approximately £1.42 million annually, based on 2022/23 data for utility and highways companies. Of this total, £200,000 has been allocated to create three new staff positions to oversee the scheme's operation. The remaining funds will be directed towards highway maintenance, pothole repairs, and other initiatives aimed at reducing congestion and expediting roadworks.

Havering Council follows in the footsteps of neighbouring Redbridge Council, which introduced a similar lane rental policy last year. Councillor Sibley acknowledged concerns that the scheme might encourage rushed work but expressed confidence that companies would maintain quality standards, stating the new administration would not tolerate errors on its roads.