Street works review coming
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THE LONG-AWAITED review of the public utilities Street Works Act 1950, which will include a careful look at the adequacy of present reinstatement standards, got under way last week.
The independent review, commissioned by the Department of Transport, will be carried out by a chairman and two assessors and will give its findings to the Department of Transport by November.
Professor Hichael Horne, a retired Beyer Professor of Civil Engineering at Manchester University heads the review, joined by vice-chairman of the National Joint Utilities Group Derek Ford. Representing the local authorities is Norman Ellis, former county engineer for South Yorkshire.
The review will consider the impact of current volumes and weights of traffic; the different problems of rural and urban areas; the adequacy of present financial arrangements for reinstatement; and the adequacy of liaison arrangements between utilities and highway authorities.
Introducing the review, Transport Under Secretary Lynda Chalker said: "There may be room for improving some of the procedures, especially those relating to road reinstatement.
"The House of Commons transport select committee expressed particular concern about this during the last Parliament. But any changes must be fair to all concerned."
Both the Freight Transport Association and the National Joint Utilities Group said that they were looking forward to the review.