West End anger as utilities ‘ruin’ streets

The owners of key tourist areas including Regent Street, Covent Garden and Carnaby Street have spoken out to try to stop utility companies from ruining London’s streets.

Landlords including Shaftesbury and The Crown Estate have spent thousands on Yorkstone and other expensive materials as part of developments in central London but they have been plagued by utility companies digging up newly laid paving. West End ward councillor Jonathan Glanz has been calling for changes to the way works are carried out.

He said : “Utility companies have been digging up pavements across the West End after landlords have laid beautiful paving stones at great expense. Leaving pavements covered in tarmac is unacceptable. Thames Water has been one of the offenders.”

Mr Glanz said some of the worst-hit streets have been Ramillies Place, Oxford Circus, Kingly Street, Regent Street, north of Oxford Street. He said works undertaken by Thames Water, UK Power Networks, National Grid Gas and BT have caused issues.

Landlords have been trying to ensure work is carried out quickly and with minimum damage but Annie Walker, executive officer at the Regent Street Association, said a lack of communication has been an issue.

She said: “Thames Water have been appalling. There is no constructive communication. The temporary works always look awful and we shouldn’t have to wait so long for the temporary repairs to be made proper and permanent.”

Westminster Council has already taken Thames Water to task over roadworks and leaking pipes but pavement work has now become an issue.

Martin Low, Westminster’s city commissioner of transportation, said: “We have introduced a street-works permit system to improve coordination between utilities, and we hope that the Government will provide us with powers to introduce a lane rental scheme.”

Brian Bickell, chief executive of Shaftesbury, said: “We share the disappointment of local authorities when pavements and roads are not properly returned to their original finish and condition after any works.”

Utility companies often use temporary tarmac while the ground settles around a repair or while they source the correct stone or slabs but legislation requires companies to repair roads and pavements with permanent coverings within six months.