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Njug hits back over streetwork complaint The National Joint Utilties Group (Njug), has hit back at suggestions that utilities should be subject to a "pothole tax", saying that potholes are caused not by utility works but by severe weather. Njug, which represents all utilities ovet streetworks, has written an open letter to Mike Linley, chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), who commissioned a survey of roads. In the letter, Njug says it does not believe that there should be a 'pothole tax' levied upon utilities because they are as a result of severe winters. It says that analysis by industry and government shows "no convincing evidence supporting the position that utility or highway authority works are responsible for long term damage to roads". Njug also pointed out that half of all excavation road works are undertaken by local authorities. In the case of utility work, utilities fund highway authorities to inspect 30 per cent of their works up to two years after they have been completed and repair any that are found to be defective at their own cost The utilities group said that national and local governments should work with industry on researching new technologies, techniques and materials that may prevent potholes from occurring in the first place The full text of Njug's letter is here. Source: Utility Week © Faversham House Group Ltd 2010. News articles may be copied or forwarded
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