ALARM report calls for public investment

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Asphalt Industry Alliance says number of potholes across England and Wales increased by 59% over the last year

THE 16th Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey, published on 31 March, confirms a marked deterioration in local road conditions, with the number of potholes in the last year reaching over the two million mark for the first time.

According to the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which commissioned the survey, the total number of potholes filled in the past year reached 2,202,000 – representing an increase of 59% over the previous year. More alarmingly, local authorities continue to report a large shortfall in annual road maintenance budgets they receive from the government; this year it amounts to £895 million, an increase of 12% on last year’s shortfall.

AIA chairman Colin Loveday commented: ‘Local authorities are doing what they can, but reactive maintenance, such as simply filling potholes when they appear, is at least 20 times more expensive than planned preventative maintenance.

‘The annual shortfall in budget has increased this year and spending review cuts translate to a potential loss of another £440 million over the next four years. The additional £200 million announced in February and March this year is welcome but if the government wants to save the country money it should be investing in local roads now to save a massive repair bill later on.’

The ALARM Survey found that £10.65 billion is now needed to bring the roads of England and Wales up to scratch. Three years of severe winter weather has revealed the fragile condition of the local road network, with some road surfaces around the country deteriorating visibly.

In response to last week’s ALARM Survey findings, Tarmac issued a press release saying: ‘The AIA’s 2011 ALARM Survey supports and underpins the ongoing lobbying from local authorities and industry around UK roads. The national road asset is continuing to deteriorate at a rapid rate because of a lack of long-term funding for structural maintenance.

‘With the one-off investment needed to clear the maintenance backlog across England and Wales surpassing £10 billion for the first time, local authorities and maintenance contractors face an unenviable situation. While the government's recent 'top up' funds of £200 million for pothole repairs in England will help local authorities in the short term, the stark reality is that it will not go anywhere near covering the cost of damage caused to roads by the recent severe winters, which stands at around £400 million…Roads are a vital strategic asset, and we must adopt a longer-term approach to funding and structural maintenance.’