SOME of Scotland's biggest firms have been sanctioned over their record in repairing roads after carrying out works in the Scottish capital.
Companies including Virgin, BT Openreach, Scottish Power, Scottish Water and SGN (formerly Scottish Gas Networks) have failed one in five inspections after digging holes in Edinburgh's streets to repair pipes and feed broadband cables, with the average number of questionable jobs almost doubling in just a year.
The introduction of fibre broadband and festival embargoes are significant factors, the firms said.
Read more: Labour hit out at delays in publishing report on roadworks tsar
A new report from Edinburgh City Council reveals the average pass rate for inspected "reinstatements" after repairs was 80.5 per cent, against a minimum target of 90 per cent, and a drop of seven per cent on the average number of passes in a year.
The companies said that improving the quality of road and pavement access once they've had to carry out key works is a priority and they are "doing their utmost".
The report follows a call on the Scottish Government earlier this month to end a delay in publishing the findings of a review into the work of the quango in charge of overseeing the nation's roadworks amid concerns for cost and safety.
The independent review of Scotland's taxpayer-funded "cone tsar", the Scottish Road Works Commissioner were originally due in March.
The Edinburgh results followed a clampdown by the council which doubled the number of inspections.
Read more: Labour hit out at delays in publishing report on roadworks tsar
The total potential cost to the utility companies in charges after the Edinburgh move is £634,104.
Paul Lawrence, an executive director at the council, said in the report: "Following analysis of the performance figures for each public utilities, all five failed to show any significant improvement in performance."
A BT Openreach spokeswoman said: “Openreach works in Edinburgh have grown significantly in this period due to both our ongoing rollout of fibre broadband and demand for our ultrafast business services.
"Works have also been impacted by embargoes at key periods such as Christmas and during the Fringe, and all but urgent works were suspended during the Forth Road Bridge closure to ease congestion on the roads.
"While such factors can make it difficult for Openreach to get road space time to carry out remedial works, we’ll continue to strive to address the issues raised.”
Katie Lobban, spokeswoman for distribution firm SGN, said: "When carrying out essential work to upgrade and maintain our gas network, it’s necessary to dig up roads and footpaths.
Read more: Labour hit out at delays in publishing report on roadworks tsar
"Following completion of this essential work, we are committed to reinstating road and pavement surfaces to the highest standard at all times."
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: "In Edinburgh we have nearly halved the number of defective apparatus since 2011/12 and failed reinstatements have improved by nearly a quarter in the last year alone.
"We are a unique utility company with two remits - providing water and waste water services.
"This means we have more assets and infrastructure to manage - in Edinburgh alone we have 2,500 miles of underground pipes to maintain."
Read more: Labour hit out at delays in publishing report on roadworks tsar
A ScottishPower spokesperson said: “We are working hard to improve our road works performance and, while being among the best performing, appreciate that there is still room for further improvement.
"We are continuing to work with CEC to improve our performance, minimise disruption and deliver our large investment programme in the area.”
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