Contractors carrying out roadworks on County Durham’s busiest routes could be charged up to £2,500 a day as the Council becomes the latest local authority to implement a Lane Rental Scheme aimed at cutting congestion.

Durham County Council introduced the scheme on Monday 19 October, covering some of the county’s busiest and most congested roads. The authority says it is the first council in the North East, and among the first outside of London, to introduce such a scheme, says The Northern Echo.

The council hopes the charges will encourage companies to carry out work outside peak travel times, finish jobs more quickly and use methods which cause less disruption.

Around 6.7 per cent of the council’s overall road network will be covered by the scheme, with the list of affected roads reviewed each year using traffic and congestion data.

Cllr Tim McGuinness (pictured, right, with Stephen Jones, Durham County Council’s highway network manager), Durham County Council’s cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, said:

“The Lane Rental Scheme will help us keep roads open during the busiest periods while still allowing for important infrastructure works to be carried out.

“It will encourage better planning and coordination between organisations, ensuring traffic continues to move across the county efficiently.”

The scheme will apply to planned road and street works covered by the council’s existing permit system, as well as some works carried out by developers and organisations installing equipment on roads.

Companies will be able to avoid charges by scheduling work outside designated peak periods, shortening the length of the works or using less disruptive methods.

(Picture: Durham County Council)