Utility firm to be hit in the pocket for closing road without permission
Oxfordshire County Council has pledged firm action against a utility company which closed an A40 slip road without street works permits being approved, causing traffic disruption in nearby villages.
As highways authority, the council said it would issue fines and other fees – likely to total tens of thousands of pounds – against the company for closing the slip road in Marston without a valid permit, leading to an increase in heavy traffic travelling through the villages of Elsfield and Woodeaton.
By failing to obtain the necessary permit and working outside the agreed statutory process, the company prevented the council from managing the wider impact of the roadworks to minimise disruption.
Councillor Tim Bearder, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It’s completely unacceptable that they did this unilaterally and without agreement.
“We, as highways authority, need to agree and schedule roadworks in a planned and considered way and I will be challenging this company about why this happened.
“It has caused immense disruption to residents who have seen heavy goods vehicles, double decker buses and a huge amount of traffic diverted on to a single-track road through their tiny villages.
“This must not happen again, and we will be making that perfectly clear to the utility company involved while also making sure that this work is completed as soon as possible.”
The council has taken formal enforcement action in relation to the permit breach. A fixed penalty notice has been issued in accordance with national regulations – the highest level of penalty ordinarily available for this category of permit offence.
In May, the council’s lane rental scheme came into force – a system which allows it to charge companies up to £2,500 per day for working on the busiest roads at peak traffic times.
As the work took place on a designated lane rental road during periods where charging applies, the firm is expected to face fees of around £60,000.
Council officers will continue discussions with the company to ensure that appropriate improvements are made and that a similar situation does not arise again.
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