A NORTH Yorkshire MP has called for a Pariamentary debate on involving residents and businesses when roadworks are planned in an area.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, asked for the debate during Business of the House of Commons last week following months of roadworks on Leeds Road in Harrogate and several sets of temporary roadworks in his constituency.

Mr Jones said: “Roadworks are necessary to ensure the condition of our roads is maintained and improved and that new developments have access to utilities, plus it is necessary to ensure that we keep our essential services like water, gas and electricity.

“But often they spring up with no notice to the local community and no end in sight sometimes with poor diversions for traffic. This is what I was wanting to address in Parliament. We have two local authorities, a large number of utility companies, sometimes developers and their contractors. To the residents, motorists and businesses no-one is pulling all these strands together to make sure everyone is kept informed."

The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley MP, leader of the House of Commons, said he would ask the Department for Communities and Local Government for advice on the matter.