Parking-ticket style fixed penalty fines of up to £120 can now be issued to water, gas, electricity and cable television companies which fail to give proper notice that they intend to dig up the road.

The government has now strengthened the powers of councils to allow them to co-ordinate when and where street works are carried out. Now town hall highways chiefs can fine the utility companies which don't provide sufficient information.

And these new powers have been strongly welcomed by the new deputy leader of the Metro and ruling member for the environment Coun David Molyneux.

He said: "This was discussed at a Cabinet meeting and agreed. As yet we have not had to issue any fines, but if we have to, be assured, we will prosecute."

The increasing curse of roadworks, sometimes with different utilities digging up the same stretch of road over and over again, is one of the main causes of traffic jams. The new street works regulations give the council the ability to insist that utility companies give longer notice periods before starting works.

Until now, local authorities had to take firms to court for breaking rules, embroiling themselves in long and often complicated legal process.

But now they can issue fines for starting work without giving notice or failing to tell the Metro of cancelled or finished work.
The fixed penalties are £120, or £80 if paid within 29 days.

Metro highways chiefs can still decide to prosecute.
The maximum fine that magistrates can impose is £2,500 in addition to costs. Authorities already have the power to charge if works take longer than planned, up to £2,000 a day.