The Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway (SRoH) is the national statutory code mandated by the Department for Transport (DFT) under Section 71 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA). The SRoH outlines approved materials, expected standards of workmanship and levels of performance. Utility companies must follow this code so their work is safe and long-lasting. A 'temporary tarmac' repair may be used for only up to six months.

 

Within the Beverley pedestrianised area there is an increasing number of examples where reinstatement has been completed more than 12 months ago using tarmac or concrete, the original stone pavers having been removed during excavation. Although there are a few good examples of utility Streetworks and reinstatement, the Beverley Civic Society does not want to see a gradual deterioration of the street scene if reinstatement standards are not enforced by the local Councils.

 

This is not just a Beverley problem, it is endemic. Beverley Civic Society would like to see all YHACS members joining a campaign to highlight this issue by:

 

• Publicising the poor state of our streets

• Contacting all utilities to seek remedial action within legislative timescales

• Contact councils in their areas to encourage the tardy utilities to reinstate

the highway using materials that matched the surrounding area,
NOT TARMAC!

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Nicholas Boys Smith, who chairs the Office for Place in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has said in a report quoted in the Guardian that telecoms and water companies are creating “street scars” in a “wasteful process” that is marring British high streets. He used the term “street scars” to describe the black tarmac or grey slabs of concrete that disfigure the paving of streets and pavements, examples of which can be seen all over the UK.