Following a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by the News, it has been revealed that since April 2013, an extra 254 working days have been spent on completing roadwork projects carried out by Bracknell Forest Council or its contractors.

This includes resurfacing, improvement projects or works carried out by utilities companies.

A total of 132 sets of roadworks were delayed across the two years, with 37 – about a quarter – of these having to be extended by more than one day.

The most-delayed projects were a 30-day scheme started in Ringmead, Birch Hill, on February 17 last year that lasted 51 days, and a project in Osborne Lane, Warfield, last November, which was extended by 10 days from eight to 18.

However, the borough has seen a significant improvement in the amount of delayed roadworks over the past year.

From April 2013 to March 2014, motorists had to suffer an extra 236 days of roadworks, but from April 2014 to the present day, only 18 extra days have been needed – 218 days less.

Councillor Chris Turrell, executive member for planning and transport, has put this marked improvement to the council joining the street works permit scheme last November.

The scheme means utilities companies have to 'book’ their time in the road with dates, times and conditions, instead of simply informing the council as before.

Cllr Turrell said: “It is always inconvenient for residents when roadworks over-run. Sometimes there are unexpected events or findings, and sometimes work is hampered by poor weather.

“To bring this under better control, the council introduced a permit scheme in October 2013. The new scheme means timings are scrutinised more closely. Additionally, there are tighter controls under the new highways contract which came into effect in October 2014.

“I am very pleased that these changes are making a clear impact: the numbers of days over-running has fallen from 236 in 2013/14 to just 18 so far in 2014/15 – the year ends on 31 March.” Cllr Turrell added that one of the statistics – a three-day project in Bracknell Road, Crowthorne, which was recorded to have taken 49 days – was an administrative error where the work had in fact finished but had not been signed off.

Five projects carried out in the two-year period finished ahead of schedule, saving nine days between them.

Paul Watters, head of road policy at the AA, said: “Road works are an issue that trebles our membership and overrunning work is a serious issue for drivers. Drivers think road works are always timed for the convenience of the contractors not the road users. Permit schemes can make a massive difference and these figures prove that. The proof is in the eating.”