Utility companies forced to share road trenches

Utility companies wanting to dig up London's roads will be forced from today to apply for a permit scheme to ensure they share trenches with each other in an attempt to minimise traffic disruption. Boris Johnson, the London mayor, ensured the capital was the first to seize on legislation introduced by the government in 2007 to minimise roadworks. Transport for London and 16 of the capital's 33 boroughs have signed up to a scheme designed to limit disruption by co-ordinating the road digging. The mayor hopes this will reduce the 300,000 holes dug each year .