PERMIT BRIGG BLOG TO SUPPORT NEW PERMIT SCHEME

Now here's something Brigg Blog supports 100 per cent, and we hope you feel the same way...

North Lincolnshire Council is looking into introducing a permit scheme for road works carried out across North Lincolnshire by all essential services to improve congestion, carbon footprint and air quality.

A permit scheme would bring about many benefits to road users as road works would be more controlled. The main objective of a permit scheme is to reduce disruption to network users. However utility companies should also benefit from reductions in the overall duration of works.

The road network is occasionally disrupted to repair and renew essential services such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications. The council also needs to routinely undertake maintenance on the network. These disruptions affect the public and businesses.

The permit scheme will mean that services have to apply to the council for a permit to carry out road works. Currently services only have to inform the council of work taking place rather than applying for consent. This will help the council better manage and influence disruption to the highway network, and in turn the public and businesses.

It would also allow the council to ensure the public are well informed about any works taking place and the impact they will have. Road works can make predicting journey times difficult, therefore giving advanced notice allows people and public transport to plan their journeys around the works being carried out.

Permit schemes in other areas have been successful and show that it can improve carbon emissions and local air quality.

Changes to regulations mean that the council can now implement a permit system itself rather than having to apply to the Department of Transport to put the scheme in place.

Coun  Nigel Sherwood (Brigg & Wolds), cabinet member for highways and neighbourhood, said: "The permit system would greatly help with controlling the road works that take place across North Lincolnshire to ensure that minimum disruption is caused.

“However, before a decision is made on introducing a permit scheme in North Lincolnshire we are going to carry out further detailed work to assess the benefits of introducing the scheme.

“There are many advantages to introducing a permit system however it is essential we carry out a full consultation before any final decisions are made to ensure it is the best option.”

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