London Report recomends charging for every minute of roadworks

London firms are losing more than £750 million a year because of chaos caused by roadworks, a report says today.

The figure, putting the average cost to business at £2,000 an hour, comes after the Evening Standard revealed the capital was enduring its worst ever summer of disruption.

It led to renewed calls for companies to be charged when they dig up roads and brought accusations that Transport for London and the boroughs could co-ordinate roadworks better.

Today's report, Road Sense, is the first time an accurate figure has been put on the roadworks that blight the capital. The survey from business group London First analysed roadworks across the capital, speaking to local firms to assess the economic impact they were having.

The report wants measures which include making roadworks free on minor road to encourage utility firms to use them more, and a lane rental scheme on the busiest roads charging firms £1,000 a day for planned roadworks and £1,500 for emergency works.

It would also include a £2,000 fine for any firm failing to let the local authority know roadworks are being carried out, or if they overrun.

Read the full story in the Evening Standard.......