Road users can breathe a sigh of relief after Surrey County Council pledged control when roadworks take place.

Previously, different companies had been allowed to dig up the same roads at different times, which caused misery for drivers and cost the local economy large sums of money each year.

Now the county council is taking charge and deciding who is allowed to dig where and when, through a new permit scheme.

Companies that fail to plan adequately to limit their impact on traffic will be refused permission to carry out the work.

The council believes the scheme will lead to 2,400 fewer roadworks in the county every year, reduce congestion and save the county’s economy about £6.5m a year.

John Furey, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “Roadworks can be a real pain, so it’s great we can now tell companies when, how and with whom to dig. This means we can limit the number of roadworks at any one time in one area so there are fewer traffic issues.”

In the new plans, the county council’s road teams will be able to make firms time their works to fit with other companies’ plans for the same road, make them follow clear rules including times and days of work and make them pay for a permit.

Companies that break the rules of a permit or commence works without them will be handed a fine and could be prosecuted.