Darwen's road delays blamed on gas repairs (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Does this council really take us for fools. "“We do not have much, if any control, of the utilities, and for them to just turn up and begin working is where the real problem lies.". The utility companies need to apply to the council before they start work
It doesn't. take much to google it to find that out.
Taken straight for the new roads and street act
If it appears to the street authority—
A that proposed street works are likely to cause serious disruption to traffic, and
B that the disruption would be avoided or reduced if the works were carried out only at certain times,
the authority may give the undertaker such directions as may be appropriate as to the times when the works may or may not be carried out.


Yet more lies from this council!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't apply to emergency works or works which are necessary to maintain customer supply.

Strangely enough, just about all works done by utilities seem to be either emergencies or works needed to maintain customer supply. Can't think why that might be.

It just shows the total contempt with which the utility companies have for the public. These roadworks are a joke. There is easily enough space for two lanes of traffic past them tonight but the workforce clocked off and was long gone before the rush hour and couldn't care less. Why cant National Grid work shifts and get the job done fast like the Enviroment Agency lads. They were working late.

Emergency works.

(1)In this Part “emergency works” means works whose execution at the time when they are executed is required in order to put an end to, or to prevent the occurrence of, circumstances then existing or imminent (or which the person responsible for the works believes on reasonable grounds to be existing or imminent) which are likely to cause danger to persons or property.
(2)Where works comprise items some of which fall within the preceding definition, the expression “emergency works” shall be taken to include such of the items as do not fall within that definition as cannot reasonably be severed from those that do.
(3)Where in any civil or criminal proceedings brought by virtue of any provision of this Part the question arises whether works were emergency works, it is for the person alleging that they were to prove it.

This is not emergency work it is planned mains replacement. Maintaining supply is not covered in the new roads and street act that is for the utilities to manage or get fined by the regulatory body.
A utility cannot just turn up and dig a hole, they must even for emergency work obtain permission for the local authority.
The council are not as innocent as they make out.
They can implement fines for works Not done to the letter of the law and believe me they fine utilities a small fortune

I live on Hawkshaw. I have to put up with the repairs, for goodness sake just let them get on with them. The world's not coming to an end!

This problem is exacerbated by unhelpful 'courteous drivers' allowing motorist to queue jump merging from Sunnyhurst Lane, having previously sneaked through back roads to bipass town. These drivers get through the lights whilst the queue gets bigger behind them. Further congestion is caused by motorists turning right into Sunnyhurst lane. This needs to be taken into consideration and somehow sorted, the traffic would then move a lot better.

Wishingwell wrote:
It just shows the total contempt with which the utility companies have for the public. These roadworks are a joke. There is easily enough space for two lanes of traffic past them tonight but the workforce clocked off and was long gone before the rush hour and couldn't care less. Why cant National Grid work shifts and get the job done fast like the Enviroment Agency lads. They were working late.

1. How would the residents on Blackburn Road react to the work being done at night, depriving them of sleep?

2. The work is contracted out to Balfour Beatty who then sub-contract it out. The lads on site are paid by how much pipe they replace, therefore the work is being done as fast as it can SAFELY be done.

darwen_celeb wrote:
This problem is exacerbated by unhelpful 'courteous drivers' allowing motorist to queue jump merging from Sunnyhurst Lane, having previously sneaked through back roads to bipass town. These drivers get through the lights whilst the queue gets bigger behind them. Further congestion is caused by motorists turning right into Sunnyhurst lane. This needs to be taken into consideration and somehow sorted, the traffic would then move a lot better.

Typical British mentality...It's not queue jumping it's using your brain.

The queue would have the same number of cars in if they joined the back, just local knowledge keeps them one step ahead...nothing wrong with that.

Never trust a Navi !!!

QuizOnMyFace wrote:

darwen_celeb wrote:
This problem is exacerbated by unhelpful 'courteous drivers' allowing motorist to queue jump merging from Sunnyhurst Lane, having previously sneaked through back roads to bipass town. These drivers get through the lights whilst the queue gets bigger behind them. Further congestion is caused by motorists turning right into Sunnyhurst lane. This needs to be taken into consideration and somehow sorted, the traffic would then move a lot better.

Typical British mentality...It's not queue jumping it's using your brain.

The queue would have the same number of cars in if they joined the back, just local knowledge keeps them one step ahead...nothing wrong with that.

As can be seen from all the posts, the typical British mentality is "whine, whine, complain, complain.... and whine some more"

Crap happens, everyday is not going to be a great day; obstacles will almost always be present.

So adapt, keep moving forward, do not look behind - and will everyone PLEASE STOP WHINING.

--Earth first, we can destroy the other planets later--

pbrock wrote:

QuizOnMyFace wrote:

darwen_celeb wrote:
This problem is exacerbated by unhelpful 'courteous drivers' allowing motorist to queue jump merging from Sunnyhurst Lane, having previously sneaked through back roads to bipass town. These drivers get through the lights whilst the queue gets bigger behind them. Further congestion is caused by motorists turning right into Sunnyhurst lane. This needs to be taken into consideration and somehow sorted, the traffic would then move a lot better.

Typical British mentality...It's not queue jumping it's using your brain.

The queue would have the same number of cars in if they joined the back, just local knowledge keeps them one step ahead...nothing wrong with that.

As can be seen from all the posts, the typical British mentality is "whine, whine, complain, complain.... and whine some more"

Crap happens, everyday is not going to be a great day; obstacles will almost always be present.

So adapt, keep moving forward, do not look behind - and will everyone PLEASE STOP WHINING.

--Earth first, we can destroy the other planets later--

Whinge? Merely an observation and a possible solution to relieve the congestion, weirdo.

Darwen needs a bypass - end of!

Nice to see common sense or complaints have taken action. Needless lights (no work going on) removed and bi

Please can you all stop talking cr-p and get on the comments on the missing ed sutton in darwen. show your support