Councils will be given greater control of street works

The Traffic Management Bill, outlined by the Transport Secretary on Wednesday, focuses on cracking down on utility companies digging up roads.

Other measures are aimed at lessening pressures on traffic police.

Meanwhile, the bill has been broadly welcomed by motoring organisations as a "step in the right direction".

'Counter productive'

The National Joint Utilities Group acknowledges that measures helping co-ordination between all parties involved in street work "are key to minimising inconvenience".

But a spokesman warned: "There is a risk that measures contained in the Traffic Management Bill will add considerably to the complexity of regulations that govern street works and could prove counter productive and add substantially to the cost of utility services."

Motorists are unlikely to welcome an increase in parking enforcement without a reasonable alternative RAC

Measures to tackle street works, introduced in 2001, mean local authorities are allowed to fine companies up to �2,000 if they spend too long digging up roads.

But a study by the RAC Foundation, published in November, claimed some utility firms were deliberately exaggerating the time they expected road works to take to avoid fines.

The NUJG has also complained that the new legislation only governs utility companies and should apply more widely to all companies carrying out street works.

Co-ordinating repairs

Motoring organisations, meanwhile, have welcomed the crackdown.

RAC spokeswoman Susie Haywood said research by the organisation showed three-quarters of motorists thought utilities should be forced to co-ordinate repairs so that road works are carried out less frequently but for longer period of times.

"The new bill should go some way to reducing traffic hold-ups and encouraging smooth traffic flow", she added.

And a spokesman for the AA said measures to reduce delays would always be welcome but motorists would eventually judge whether or not they had been successful.

We won't know if these are workable until they're actually in place Green Flag

Green Flag spokesman Nigel Charlesworth said his organisation welcomed "anything that keeps the road clear of congestion" but said time would tell whether Alistair Darling's raft of measures could provide answers.

He said: "We won't know if these are workable until they're actually in place.

"It depends how many penalties are imposed and also on the goodwill of local authorities."

The RAC expressed concern about plans to strengthen the parking enforcement powers of local authorities saying 67% of motorists had told the organisation there are too many restrictions already in place.

Ms Haywood said: "Motorists are unlikely to welcome an increase in parking enforcement without a reasonable alternative."