A front-loaded, five-year funding settlement is the only way
local authorities will be able to address a deteriorating local
roads network and plan ahead, says the Transport Committee.
The Committee’s latest report, Local roads funding and
maintenance: filling the gap, addresses the extreme state of
disrepair of the English local road network.
Potholes are a headache for everyone and a severe risk for many,
says the Report. A deteriorating local road network undermines
local economic performance and results in direct costs to
taxpayers, either through rising costs of deferred work or
through a mend and make do approach that does not represent good
value for money in the long-term. It also damages vehicles and
causes injuries to passengers, particularly those with existing
medical conditions.
The safety of other road users, especially cyclists, is seriously
compromised. Pedestrians and those who are older or vulnerable,
can be left feeling anxious and isolated, afraid to leave their
own homes.
However, local government revenue funding has fallen by about 25%
since 2010. With no ring-fencing for local roads funding,
cash-strapped authorities have diverted the money to plug other
gaps such as social care. Lack of funding certainty has caused
many councils to take short-term, reactive decisions on road
maintenance, which is less effective than proactive maintenance
and undermines local economic performance.
The Committee warns that extracting a five-year settlement from
the Treasury should not be an excuse to cut funding. The
exact nature of the settlement should be developed following
consultation with local authorities to ensure the funding is
designed in a way that will be most useful for them, says the
Report. It should encourage innovation, collaboration and good
practice.
The Department for Transport publishes basic data on road
conditions and has begun work on collecting and publishing
further data. The Committee believes that the DfT should
make it easier for the public to report road concerns and to
access real-time updates on road conditions.
The Chair of the Transport Committee, MP, said:
““Local roads are the arteries of our villages, towns and cities,
but most people won’t have to go further than the local shops to
spot a pothole that poses a risk of injury or damage.
“Local authorities are in the invidious position of having to rob
Peter to pay Paul. Cash-strapped councils are raiding their
highways and transport budgets to fund core services. This is not
an isolated example – it’s been a common thread in our other
recent inquiries on buses and active travel. Now is the time for
the Department to propose a front-loaded, long-term funding
settlement to the Treasury as part of the forthcoming Spending
Review.
“Almost every journey begins and ends on local roads: the DfT
must work with the public and local authorities to make them
safe.”
will be making a statement
to the House about the Report on Thursday 4 July
