Posted on Wednesday 10th September 2025
Councillor Peter Mason says this new approach will benefit road users
Officials in Staffordshire have written to utility companies asking them to get behind the county council’s new approach to roadworks.
The letter sets out Staffordshire County Council’s approach, and how it will impose stricter rules on utility companies who need access to the road network and use fines to encourage compliance.
Current legislation prioritises utility works and third-party access to road networks, often with very little notice given to county councils.
Staffordshire County Council wants to work with utility companies to ensure their work is completed as quickly as possible, and to a sufficient standard.
To address congestion caused by roadworks on major networks in Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council is refraining 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 has asked the major utility companies to reduce how long they take in repairing them.
Peter Mason, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways said:
“We want to work with utility companies on this, as less congestion on our roads will benefit local communities that have often been blighted by too many roadworks at any one time. This is why I’ve written to them to explain our plans, and how they can work with us to support them.
“However, I have also been very clear that we will be scrutinising their requests for access on our roads, including the length of time works can take, and will be using fines if they don’t comply. We have also been seeing some varying standards of work done by utilities when they reinstate the road, so we will be clamping down on this too.
“Unfortunately, current legislation works in their favour, and this needs to change. The powers need to be rebalanced in favour councils and road users. This is for central government to action, and I am currently lobbying and seeking the support of all Staffordshire MPs to take this forward and to get the changes needed.”