More councils are going to introduce permits for utility companies before they can start digging up the road. The idea is to improve co-ordination between utility companies, so they might actually do work at the same time – a radical idea. Four local councils in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex will join the existing participants in Kent, Northamptonshire, London, St Helens and Yorkshire.

The scheme, will give four councils more powers to co-ordinate road works and take tough action against companies who break the rules – including issuing fines of up to £5,000. The scheme requires anyone carrying out road works to apply for a permit in advance and allows councils to set conditions on timing, co-ordination and the amount of road space left available to road users.