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Traffic tsar for West Midlands
Page 10
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II The West Midlands looks set to have its own 'roads tsar to minimise disruption to traffic from roadworks.
The official will grant licences to dig up roads and may even be able to fine contractors who fail to complete jobs on time. Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, who is promoting the idea, says traffic directors in conurbations such as the West Midlands will help make better use of available road space, by co-ordinating when and where roadworks take place.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport says: "We are currently looking at legislation to give these individuals specific powers."
Ken McIntosh, business development manager for Oidbury-based Bird's Groupage Services, welcomes the idea. "it will make a difference lithe guy has got teeth, particularly 'if he can challenge people who ask to dig up roads."
McIntosh, who is a member of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce transport policy group, says there is currently a lack of co-ordination in the way roadworks are handled in the region.
But Dr Malcolm Read, chief transportation officer for Wolverhampton, says the existing system run by the region's seven local authorities works well.
"My gut feeling is that there is a lot of co-operation in the way we work, but there is always room for improvement."
Later this year, the region is to begin trials of congestionbusting Red Routes along the A449 (between the M54 and Wolverhampton) and along the A34 (between the M40 and Birmingham).
The scheme may eventually be extended to match London's 320-mile network, at atotal cost of £180m.