Roadworks Horror
 | | |
ONE of the borough's busiest roads is being dug up more than twice a day for roadworks, figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show.
King Street, in Hammersmith, has survived 582 incidents of digging, excavating, and other roadworks by utility companies since April last year.
This is closely followed by Uxbridge Road, which has been dug up 523 times, and Hammersmith Road, which has been dug up 403 times.
By law, utility companies must notify councils each time they carry out works, though in emergencies, this can be up to two hours after work has started.
Thames Water is the worst offender among the utility companies, and is responsible for more than half the roadworks carried out in the borough.
This year alone, 9,828 of the 18,710 works were conducted by Thames Water, with second placed EDF Energy carrying out 3,490 works.
Omotola Fatogun, 25, of Ashchurch Terrace, Shepherd's Bush, uses her car every day to get to work, and says the latest work by Thames Water to replace pipes around Goldhawk Road is annoying.
she said: "I understand roadworks need to be done. But when they last so long, just getting near your door can be a nightmare.
"They should also use more of the money they get from fines to fix potholes caused by the icy weather. It's not pleasant to drive along those roads.
"Sometimes it's like driving in Africa."
Councils also have the power to fine utility companies if works overrun, with money generated used to improve roads.
But Hammersmith and Fulham Council may not be enforcing this as much as they should.
A spokeswoman at Thames Water said: "We've replaced more than 1,000 miles of worn-out Victorian water mains under London since 2003, reducing leakage by 24 per cent in the past four years.
"Sometimes streetworks complications are hard to avoid because London, with its water, gas, electricity and telecoms networks, is often just as crowded below ground as it is above."
Last year, 10 per cent of all fines issued were reduced, and of the £497,550 in fines that was clocked up, only £297,300 was paid.
A council spokeswoman said: "We come down heavily on utility companies whose overrunning or unsafe road works cause severe disruption to residents.
"However, the law insists that we are reasonable with companies and allow them to explain why works may have run over, so we negotiate where possible.
|
|
|
|
|
Hammersmith&Kensington
Times News |
|
|