Who is digging up the road - GO
What is the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 - GO
How does the Council know who is digging up the roads - GO
What power does the Council have over the Utilities - GO
What can the public do to help - GO

• Who is digging up the road
  • On any given day in Glasgow there will be a road being excavated somewhere. The public tend to have the conception that it is the council which is responsible. However, it is a fact that the utility companies (such as Water, Electricity, Gas, etc) who carry out the majority of road excavations in the city. The utility companies do have a responsibility under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to ensure that any works are reinstated accordingly.

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• What is the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991
  • The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, or NRSWA, defines the responsibilities and obligations of the Local Authorities and the Utility companies when working on the public road. It states that the utility companies are responsible for their own excavations and reinstatements, and that the Local Authority should monitor, not manage, these works.

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• How does the Council know who is digging up the roads
  • If the works are carried out for a utility company, the Council are passed details of the works using the Scottish Road Works Register.  This is an electronic system designed to assist in the co-ordination of road works. If the works are carried out for a private individual or non-utility company, a permit to carry out the works must be sought from the Council prior to the works. Details of these permits are entered by the Council in the Scottish Road Works Register. If the works are carried out for Glasgow City Council, they are recorded in the Council’s own Routine Maintenance System as well as the Scottish Road Works Register.  By interrogating the Scottish Road Works Register, it is possible for Council staff to find out who is digging up the road. 

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• What power does the Council have over the Utilities
  • The NRSWA gives the Council certain powers when dealing with utility companies, but has little influence over the utility company’s intention to dig up the road. The utility companies are required to serve a Notice of Works to the Council, however this can be as late as 2 hours after work has started (for emergency or urgent works). Major works often include advance meetings between the Council and the utility to enable planning and co-ordination on the City’s roads.

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• What can the public do to help
  • Glasgow City Council monitors the major works done by the utility companies. However, on many occasions, the public are first to see potential hazards. We always welcome help and information from the public. If there has been an excavation on the road for some time with no one working there, or if it’s in a dangerous or untidy state please let us know. We’ll be able to send a technical officer down to inspect the site, identify the utility involved and check if the work has been open for longer than it should have been.  Further information on lay assessors and roadworks monitoring.

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Contact Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services Richmond Exchange 20 Cadogan Street Glasgow G2 7AD Phone: 0141 287 9000 Fax: 0141 287 9059 E-mail: land@glasgow.gov.uk