Roadworks have been branded ‘the bane of our lives’ after chaos prompted calls for councils to have more powers to clamp down on contractors.

Bracknell Forest Council has said it wants to be able to control how and when roadworks take place – and to dish out heavier fines to utility companies that break agreements.

It comes after roadworks caused chaos around the borough in the run-up to Christmas, with multiple closures around Crowthorne and Nine Mile Ride. Councillors voted to call for more powers at a meeting on Wednesday, January 10.

Bracknell Forest councillor Guy Gillbe said: “They are quite clearly the bane of our lives when it comes to this sort of thing.

“Most of these roadworks are really down to other providers like gas, electricity, water and telecommunications.

“We as a council do have insufficient ability to be able to control, corral, to be able to step in when needed to ensure that the roadworks serve the best interests of residents.”

READ MORE: Crowthorne roadworks lead to calls for more power to control closures

Companies wanting to carry out roadworks usually need to apply for a permit from the local council responsible for highways before they go ahead. And councils can fine companies £2,500 for roadworks that overrun.

But although councils can set limits on how long roadworks should take place, and how much space they should take up, they can rarely block them. And utility companies are able to carry out emergency works without having to get a permit.

Conservative councillor Robert McLean proposed that Bracknell Forest Council call on the government for ‘greater powers to better plan all but emergency works', and to issue greater fines.

Labour councillor Gillbe amended the proposal so that it asked for powers to control works, and to make it a requirement for utility companies to collaborate on their programmes of work.

Councillor McLean said residents got upset when roadworks were left in place when no work was apparently underway.

He said: “Far too often my residents have made the perfectly valid point that a lot of the work that is meant to be being carried out across the borough isn’t being done but the roadworks, the traffic lights or anything else are still in place.

“Certainly at weekends we see roadworks left obstructing the highway when no work is being carried out.”

And Conservative councillor Gareth Barnard said people were frustrated by ‘The chaotic, shoddy signage, the lack of properly put in place licenses, the subcontractors to the subcontractors.’

He said: “This is the stuff that really, really upsets people. When you’re there at eight, nine o clock at night and all four traffic lights on four way control are red, or all four or green or all four are just not working.”

Councillors voted unanimously to back the motion at the full council meeting.