A Welcome Reduction in Roadwork Disruption?
Following BCP Council's public consultation on the implementation of a Local Lanes Rental Scheme (LLRS), where more than 75% supported the proposals, an application was made to the Secretary of State for Transport.
That application has now been approved!
What does that mean for the area?
The powers – known as Local Lane Rental Schemes (LLRS) – see daily charges for roadworks on a local authority’s busiest roads: encouraging work to be carried out at off-peak times and more collaboratively - creating less disruption.
Lane Rental charges apply to both Council and contractor roadworks and the income received is specifically ringfenced to operate the scheme with 50% of any surplus invested into road maintenance and measures to further reduce roadwork disruption.
The powers have been introduced in a handful of local authorities nationally and have delivered significant improvements – reducing congestion and the duration of roadworks.
In the first 16 months of a LLRS being in operation in West Sussex, it has:
- reduced the time taken for roadworks by a combined 3,083 days
- reduced the duration of utility roadworks by 32.48%
Let's hope this scheme can bring some order to the seemly never ending roadworks that plague Christchurch!
Published: 2nd August 2026