As the Member of Parliament for Broxbourne, I’m determined to be a strong local voice for my constituents. People in Broxbourne want to see the problems they face in their daily lives brought to Parliament and, ultimately, addressed by the Government.
That’s why, in just the last few weeks, hundreds of them have told me about their experiences of being stuck in traffic as a result of roadworks.
Traffic congestion and delays affect millions of people every day in this country, but it’s an issue that just doesn’t get spoken about.
Transportation analytics company INRIX have calculated that the average driver in the UK lost 61 hours as a result of standstill traffic in 2023, up 4 hours in the last year. Overall, the cost of traffic delays to the country is an eye-watering £7.5 billion.
The time and economic cost is especially damaging in the constituency of Broxbourne, where more people use a car or van to get to work than the national average. Broxbourne’s geography means roadworks are particularly detrimental: two main roads, running north to south, connect all of our towns and villages. If works are taking place at any location, the traffic can affect almost the entirety of Broxbourne.
Through my survey, residents have made it extremely clear how disruptive long waits in traffic caused by roadworks are to their daily lives.
Shoppers looking to enjoy their hard-earned cash are unable to spend as much time as they would wish at local shops. Small business owners and traders struggle to make appointments on time. I have heard about delays in reaching elderly parents, carers finding it difficult to carry out their vital duties and children missing out on the start of the school day.
It is not just car journeys; for many of my constituents, the bus service is a lifeline, and when roadworks have left our local roads gridlocked, buses are inevitably delayed. Pensioners in my constituency have told me that they have simply given up even trying to go out. The knock-on effects of missing serious medical appointments and of social isolation are obvious.
The less time people have to earn or spend, the harder it is for our economy to grow. In her Budget, the Chancellor proclaimed that growth will be her mission, so I hope the Government will recognise the economic impact of traffic jams and make changes to reduce them.
Local authorities and utility companies must communicate much better between themselves and with the public. When necessary, roadworks should be conducted in the most sensible and cost-effective way possible. It cannot be right that the same stretch of road is dug up time and again, sometimes by the same company.
It should be easier to find out why disruption is taking place and exactly how long it will be for. We should use technology much better and come up with innovative ways to avoid static traffic where we can.
I welcome the fact that the previous Government set out a Plan for Drivers and consulted on several policies to make it easier for everyone to use our roads. This included helping local authorities establish lane rental schemes, which would permit them to charge up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times. Charges would apply to works carried out by both utility companies and highway authorities.
When these schemes are in place, 95% of charges are avoided – meaning that disruption for drivers is minimised without additional costs being placed on the firms responsible. Just four schemes are currently in operation, covering less than 10% of the road network in London and counties in the south of England.
Expanding those schemes would raise significant funds for local authorities. As the previous Government proposed, surplus funds should be directed to the repair of potholes, so that drivers can benefit from smoother journeys.
In a Westminster Hall debate that I led, I urged the Transport Minister to publish the findings of that consultation, which closed in March 2024, and introduce those measures.
I am also pleased to support Mark Francois MP’s ten-minute rule Bill to strengthen regulations around overrunning roadworks and increase penalties for those responsible.
In Parliament, there is a clear cross-party consensus that the Government must take action on these problems. I can assure my constituents that I will be keeping the pressure on them until they do.
The Government must get tough on over running roadworks and the disruption they cause
