Cllr Alison Andrew is calling on Milton Keynes Council to strengthen their stance on the ways in which roads and pavements are repaired across Milton Keynes.
Cllr Andrew, Conservative councillor for Newport Pagnell North & Hanslope, will be asking this week’s Full Council meeting to support changes that would see more inspections, demands of better repairs, an increase in fixed penalty notices, and publish an annual report on quality and compliance. She will also be calling on our 3 MP’s to work with the Council for necessary changes at national level.
Cllr Andrew said
‘Our roads and pavements are in a poor state. One of the reasons is the continual digging up of roads by utility companies, leading to patchworks that break up over time and horribly unlevel surfaces,’
‘I work with many residents who raise this as one of their biggest concerns across my Ward. Inspired by a conversation with residents at my local sheltered housing, Lincoln Court, I decided to look at what can be done to improve the situation and what needs to change’.
Currently, ‘statutory undertakers’, including utility companies and telecommunications providers, carry out essential works on the public highway under powers granted by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA). However, despite there being minimum national standards for reinstatement, they often allow for patching and surface finishes that fall below the original quality of the highway or footway.
Cllr Andrew says that these poor or substandard reinstatements contribute to long-term deterioration, increased maintenance costs, trip hazards for pedestrians, and reduced public confidence in the management of local highways.
However, she raises that local authorities have limited powers to enforce “like-for-like” reinstatement under existing regulations, but could strengthen their stance through improved inspections, and enhanced local policy frameworks.
As part of her motion, Cllr Andrew will also be asking the Council to take this formally to our 3 MP’S to propose changes at national level that would see additional funding for enforcement, powers to demand like-for-like repairs, full or partial width resurfacing, and more.
Cllr Andrew added: “While some changes can be done at Council level, our Council needs changes to come from central government to fix the problem. Why shouldn’t Milton Keynes, a City founded on innovation, be the one to lead the way? All of us who walk on the pavements, use the roads, know that things need to change. I hope that colleagues across the Council will unite behind a sensible, workable solution on Wednesday evening”
