Bid to cut roadwork disruptions with extra charges

Contractors and utility companies will be charged more to work on the busiest roads in East Sussex in a bid to reduce disruption, it has been announced.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has implement the Lane Rental Scheme, which will see firms pay more to carry out work on the busiest 5.9% of the county's road network during peak times.

The aim of the scheme is to encourage work to be carried out outside of peak hours and for those working on the roads to find more efficient ways of finishing the job, according to ESCC.

Claire Dowling, the council's lead member for transport and environment, said: "The scheme will encourage shorter durations of work on the roads, help improve planning and coordination and encourage companies to get it right first time."

The extra charges will run alongside the East Sussex Permit Scheme, with a maximum cost of £2,500 a day.

However, genuine emergency work that must be carried out during peak times will not be charged under the new scheme for 48 hours from when it begins, the council said.

Once the costs of running the new scheme are covered, ESCC says surplus money will be made available for highway improvements to limit disruption and congestion.

The roads included in the Lane Rental Scheme will be reviewed annually.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.