LGA responds to research on potholes

Responding to research by confused.com on potholes, Cllr Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s Transport spokesman, said:

“Councils are fixing 1.75 million potholes a year – one every 19 seconds, which breaks down to an average of more than 10,400 per local authority. This is despite significant funding cuts leaving them with less to spend on fixing our local roads.

“Councils share the frustration of motorists having to drive on roads that are often inadequate and are doing the best they can in challenging circumstances. But it would take more than a decade and £12 billion to tackle our current roads repair backlog.

“Only with adequate funding from central government can local authorities deliver roads for the 21^st century. We are calling on the Government to use the Autumn Statement to commit to provide the long-term and consistent investment in local road maintenance that is desperately needed.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. 1.    ALARM, the flagship annual survey for road maintenance from the Asphalt Industry Alliance , estimates that local authorities repair a pothole every 19 seconds and 1.75 million a year.