Chief digs Scotland’s ‘world leading’ works initiatives

12 November 2009

Scotland should be communicating more about the ‘international class’ street works it is undertaking, according to John Gooday, Scottish roadworks commissioner.

Speaking at Road Expo Scotland in Edinburgh, he claimed Scotland was already leading the way internationally in terms of many of its works initiatives, but could do more in the sector to promote and share best practice and to communicate better with the public.

Mr Gooday said the Scottish road works register was a ‘world leading system’ providing a vital national co-ordinating link between local authorities and undertakers.

He said the system, which provides detailed locational details of works, conflict identification and a full history of works had helped to improve co-ordination within the sector. That, along with statistical indicators and a national coring programme had lead to improved performance within the last few years.

Mr Gooday also claimed the future was about producing quality works managers. ‘In the past this country has produced world class actors, athletes and football players, so why not road works managers?’

He warned, however, that in the future the sector will be judged on how the systems and processes put in placed are built on and improved. ‘Although it is significant that the community has been collecting coring data for 10 years, we continue to have a serious problem with the standard of reinstatements.

‘While we understand the failure mechanisms, we have yet to crack the problem.’

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