ENHANCED powers to sanction those carrying out unauthorised roadworks will be considered “to ensure compliance”, according to the Assistant Infrastructure Minister – who said the issue is worsening the traffic disruption Islanders already face.
St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft was commenting on the results of a survey carried out by the Infrastructure Department on Islandwide roadworks, which found that 23% of work was non-compliant – outside the scope of its permit – while 18% had no permit when it needed one, so was illegal.
Mr Crowcroft said: “I am surprised that there aren’t already penalties in place to prevent this from happening, when you think of the massive disruption.
“Everybody accepts that some infrastructure work is necessary, because we need our water and electricity and stuff like that – but if these are unlicensed works that means they are not properly co-ordinated.”
He continued: “The department spends an enormous amount of time on co-ordination of roadworks.
“If people are deliberately not complying, it means that co-ordination rebounds on the public – the problems they already have with lots of roadworks are compounded by the fact that you have unauthorised ones going on.”
He noted that he and Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan would be “talking about bringing in sanctions to ensure compliance”.
“There’s been a long process to work on the relevant laws and that’s been ongoing for several years.
“It’s not a quick fix.”
Mr Crowcroft added: “At the end of the day it’s about customer care and our customers are the residents and businesses who have been affected.”
Local businessman and St Helier Deputy David Warr said the direct impact of roadworks on footfall was “hard to judge”, but pointed out that it often “exacerbated” other issues faced by business owners.
“There are so many going on right now,” he added.
“The timing is extraordinary, especially at the height of the visitor season – in the same way that we have so much scaffolding in town.”
