Posted on Thursday 24th July 2025
Staffordshire’s newest highways chief has set out his plans to tackle disruption caused by roadworks in the county.
Peter Mason, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, has written an open letter to residents in Staffordshire detailing how he aims to change the way works are programmed in, to minimise disruption.
For the next three months, the county council will refrain from adding any new non-essential works in heavily disrupted areas, unless it can be shown that the works will not further impact key routes.
Emergency works such as water/gas leaks will still go ahead as these cannot be stopped, but the authority will be asking utility companies to reduce how long they take in repairing them.
In addition, specific urgent repair works to Corporation Street in Stafford has been approved to be completed in August during the school holidays.
Peter said:
“Since taking on the role of cabinet member for highways, it is very clear to me that we need to do more to improve the condition of Staffordshire’s roads. This does come with inevitable disruption which is to be expected, but we must do everything we can to minimise this. This includes changing how we programme these works, so not so many are done at the same time."
Added to this, he wants to impose stricter rules on utility companies who need access to the road network, and use fines to encourage their compliance.
Peter continued:
“A lot of works on Staffordshire’s roads are done by utility companies. With central government legislation prioritising utility works and third-party access to road networks, the county council is limited in its control of some works. Utility companies can and do often give very little notice of works, and we want to change this where possible.
“Ultimately, the solution to these issues is a revision of the current legislation, so powers are rebalanced in favour councils and road users. This is for central government to action, and I will be lobbying and seeking the support of all Staffordshire MPs to take this forward and to get the changes needed.”
Peter has also pledged to work with district and borough councils to amend their current environmental rules, so working hours can be extended to get projects finished sooner.
You can read the full letter here (176 KB).