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02/04/2008
'Three Million Holes' in England and Wales' Roads
Road conditions in England and Wales are in a dire state, with more than 3 million holes in roads, according to a report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance.
The report states that there are about 3.5 million holes in roads including potholes and holes dug by utility companies.
The AIA revealed there were an average of 4,268 potholes per local authority in north west England from 2006 - 2007.
The AIA believes that improvement of the road will depend on £1 billion in funding from highway maintenance budgets.
Currently, there is an 11-year backlog of maintenance work while many roads face a much longer wait for resurfacing.
AIA chairman Jim Crick said: "Roads are a vital asset and our most valuable one. We all depend on them everyday and it's time the under-funding of their maintenance was addressed. There are so many demands on highways maintenance budgets now that is almost impossible to keep pace with them."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We want local authorities to implement a system of regular, well-managed maintenance not to leave things until they deteriorate to the point that repairs become urgent and more costly."
Mr Crick added: "Despite some increase in central Government funding over recent years, it seems highways maintenance is still suffering from historically being treated as the Cinderella service."
At least £53 million was paid out in compensation claims in 2006/07 for damage to vehicles or road traffic accidents due to poor conditions on roads across England and Wales.
(DS/KMcA)
The report states that there are about 3.5 million holes in roads including potholes and holes dug by utility companies.
The AIA revealed there were an average of 4,268 potholes per local authority in north west England from 2006 - 2007.
The AIA believes that improvement of the road will depend on £1 billion in funding from highway maintenance budgets.
Currently, there is an 11-year backlog of maintenance work while many roads face a much longer wait for resurfacing.
AIA chairman Jim Crick said: "Roads are a vital asset and our most valuable one. We all depend on them everyday and it's time the under-funding of their maintenance was addressed. There are so many demands on highways maintenance budgets now that is almost impossible to keep pace with them."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We want local authorities to implement a system of regular, well-managed maintenance not to leave things until they deteriorate to the point that repairs become urgent and more costly."
Mr Crick added: "Despite some increase in central Government funding over recent years, it seems highways maintenance is still suffering from historically being treated as the Cinderella service."
At least £53 million was paid out in compensation claims in 2006/07 for damage to vehicles or road traffic accidents due to poor conditions on roads across England and Wales.
(DS/KMcA)
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