Priory Rd/Abbey Rd Gas streetworks mess

Roger and I have been at work on this since Friday 22nd, and have got senior Camden officers to make strong representations to National Grid Gas and its contractors Skanska, who have performed pretty abysmally here. One issue is the fact that National Grid Gas only sought bay suspensions for one day. If we expect residents to apply for the correct number of days, then a major utility should be able to get it right as well. We now are of course getting them to pay for the suspension days they need and hopefully there is a fine element in this as well.

The second and bigger issue is why these residents bays are suspended for days when there is so little evidence of National Grid Gas and Skanska actually doing much. Camden officers are pursuing this point now with them. They say they need access to all these bays, but we need to know why it's taking much longer than planned and what is being done to expedite it now.

This mess follows on from poor behaviour by National Grid Gas/Skanska in Elsworthy Road, so we are asking senior council officers to demand some improvement and broader explanation.

The statutory utilities like gas have quite broad rights to dig up roads for fairly obvious reasons. In the past there has been no incentive on them to minimise roadworks and to co-ordinate roadworks. The new London roadworks charging scheme, which is just coming into force and which was Boris Johnson's initiative, should hopefully improve things somewhat. Utilities will in the near future have to pay Camden and other boroughs for road lanes which are dug up, by the day. Depending on how they improve their efficiency, this could result in around £250,000 of revenue to Camden which can be used for residents' benefit.

We do know a few residents have been taking matters into their own hands in relation to these apparently unneeded suspensions. As always, if tickets have been issued incorrectly and residents are not satisfied with the process, please contact us and we will take the case up with senior parking officers.