Crumbling roads hit 'crisis' point

14/03/13

By Mark Stillman

Local authorities are counting the cost of Britain's growing pothole menace - with up to £10.5 billion needed to bring our "crumbling roads" back to good condition, says a new report.

One in five local roads are in "poor condition", according to the survey from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). This means they have five years or less life remaining.

The AIA describes the state of our roads was a "crisis of increasing concern".

Last year's second wettest year on record is being blamed for repair bills for roads damaged by extreme rainfall costing local authorities in England and Wales about £338 million.

They filled in more than two-million potholes last year - a 29 per cent rise on 2011.

This cost £113 million (£56.50 per hole on average), with £32 million being paid out in compensation demands to motorists claiming on their car insurance  and staff time spent on processing these amounting to more than £13 million.      

Last year's compensation pay-outs are 50 per cent up on 2011's figure, said the AIA report.

Local authorities in England, including London, reported a shortfall in their annual budgets totalling £829 million.

The report was based on responses from 75 per cent of England and Wales councils, which are responsible for 95 per cent of the country's roads.

AIA chairman Alan Mackenzie said regularly having to patch up crumbling roads rather than using highway engineers' skills properly, to ensure good road condition is "nonsensical" and costly to the country.

Mr Mackenzie said the Government's £215 million emergency funding announced last autumn is welcome, but makes very little difference.

He said the extra cash to help improve local road conditions over the next two years does not even cover the £338 million damage repairs needed due to last year's rainfall.

Mr Mackenzie added: "It's time to stop the rot. The Government needs to make sufficient funding available now that will enable local authorities to get their roads back into a condition that will quickly and directly boost the economy, help businesses and improve local communities."

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