Who keeps digging up our roads?

Street works within The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

A high percentage of street works that take place in the Royal Borough are in fact carried out by private utility companies. Such companies as Transco, BT and Thames Water dig up the pavements/roads in order to install, renew or repair their equipment. At present there are over 20 licensed utility companies who have worked in, or are planning to work in the Royal Borough.

All the utility companies that work on public highways have to do so in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. The main provisions are that they must comply with requirements regarding:

• safety of excavations
• reinstatement standards
• qualifications of staff and
• notification to the Council of their proposed works

Approximately 12,000 notices are received from utility companies each year and most relate to minor repair works.

The Council's responsibilities

The Council is responsible for the co-ordination and monitoring of street works carried out by utility companies. Information on planned street works are entered into the streetworks register. The register contains information on:

• The utility company doing the work
• planned start and ends dates
• location of the works
• a description of the works to be done

Extracts from the street works works register, showing some of the more major activities on the public highway, can be viewed on the Council's Works Bulletin. Details of planned Council works and crane operations are also included.

Monitoring of street works

As part of the monitoring process the Council inspects ten percent of the works carried out by utility companies. These inspections are done at each of three different stages every year. If we find anything wrong, we work with the company to sort out any issues. The company can incur a fine if they don't comply. In some cases the Council can complete the works itself, and charge the company for costs incurred.

The Council has limited powers to charge companies for not completing their work as soon as is practicable. Companies can apply for an extension of time due to unforeseen circumstances.

Quarterly meetings are held with all the utility companies, the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London to discuss major planned projects and other related issues.

Company contact details

If you have any queries regarding works being carried out by a particular utility company you may wish to contact them directly on the following numbers: