A plan to massively increase fines on overrunning works by utility companies has been welcomed by highways bosses.

Congestion caused by disruptive roadworks could be reduced while generating revenue to fix another motorist scourge – potholes.

The government estimates £100m could be raised from the penalties.

The plan chimed with Sean Holden, the chairman of Kent County Council’s environment and transport cabinet committee, who has been spearheading a campaign to peg back the number of temporary road closures.

Highways in the county shut for works shot up by more than 200% from 4,833 in 2017/18 to 10,736 in 2022/23.

Department for Transport roads minister Guy Opperman has launched a street works consultation on a series of measures, including fines of up to £10,000 per day if works run into weekends and bank holidays.

At present, they are only fined for disruption on working days.

The measures contained in the Plan for Drivers consultation document could double fines from £500 up to a maximum of £1,000 for companies who breach conditions of the job, such as working without a valid permit.

Cllr Holden said he welcomed the move which reflects his attempts to put pressure on companies to finish work on time, reopen affected roads at weekends where possible and impose suitable penalties.

His work was inspired by hearing residents complaining about the number of roadworks clogging up the county's highways.

Cllr Holden added: “I have been banging on about this for quite a while so this is a very welcome development to have the consultation tested in Kent. Roadworks are a damned nuisance all over Kent.

"There’s barely a road somewhere in the county that’s not been dug up.”

He also said he is setting up an official KCC inspectorate to report progress in monitoring works in Kent.

Much of the work is carried out by the county council's highways department to fix potholes and routine maintenance.

But the explosion of house building has also seen the need for more work by utility firms, such as water companies, sewage firms and gas and electricity suppliers.

Those firms have to be granted a permit by KCC and many will subcontract the work to others.

Critics have said that the fines which be levied currently are so low offenders simply treat them as a business expense.

The government plans would see KCC rent lanes to charge firms for the time they spend in the road or street they are working in.

It hopes the scheme could realise an extra £100m over ten years while helping to reduce congestion.

Mr Opperman said: “Being stuck in traffic is infuriating for drivers. Too often traffic jams are caused by overrunning street works.

“This government is backing drivers, with a robust approach to utility companies and others, who dig up our streets.

“We will seek to massively increase fines for companies that breach conditions and fine works that overrun into weekends and bank holidays, while making the rental for such works help generate up to an extra £100 million to improve local roads.”

The government said nationally in 2022/23, 2m street works were carried out, costing the economy around £4bn in disruption.

Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Neil Baker, said: “I welcome the launch of the government’s street works consultation to consider measures aimed at preventing utility roadworks overrunning.

"We have already piloted a pioneering Lane Rental Scheme on some of our roads, which encourages utility companies to work in the most efficient way to minimise disruption for the traveling public in Kent.

“I will continue to work with Government, the Department for Transport and other stakeholders to find ways we can reduce congestion in order to keep Kent moving.”

The measures can also help boost active travel by preventing street works from disrupting walking, wheeling and cycling, while also providing opportunities to improve pavements and pedestrian crossings and make repairs to pavements and cycle lanes.