MP welcomes better quality highways repairs

North East Herts MP, Sir Oliver Heald has welcomed the news of a new specification for highways repairs by utility companies.

This is something he has campaigned on for some time following representations to him by County Councillor Fiona Hill and District Councillor Tony Hunter. Royston Town centre recently had to be completely re-surfaced because of poor quality repairs by several utility companies.

The new specification introduces higher standards for asphalt and this should avoid the need for return visits to sites to carry out remedial works. In a letter to Sir Oliver, Chris Grayling explains that an 8 week public consultation started on 6 March and the aim is to issue the new guidance in the summer of this year.

Commenting, Sir Oliver said: “I am pleased that our representations have led to this improved specification for re-instatement works. Many of the problems we have had locally result from poor re-instatement and taken together with the extra funding from Government for pothole repairs, this should be a relief to long-suffering road users.”