Budget-hit councils opt for quick fix road repairs
Budget cuts are forcing councils to carry out short-term road repairs instead of more permanent solutions.
In a survey of 20 councils, conducted by the RAC, 12 admitted that they have now turned their attention to quick fix repairs in a bid to fill more potholes caused by the third consecutive harsh winter.
Eight out of 20 councils say they have been hit with reduced road maintenance budgets while half of councils questioned hadn’t completed repairs from the previous winter.
The effects of the failure to get a grasp of the potholes situation is illustrated by a 25% increase in RAC callouts caused by potholes and poor road conditions in the past year, the majority of which (85%) were wheel and tyre damage.
Damaged suspension was the second most common problem caused by the poor quality of the roads (70%).
Cold comfort
A spokesperson for a rural council in England said: “After this winter’s cold snap, the roads are back to square one.
“We aimed to fill potholes within 24 hours but this did not happen due to the lack of available road gangs. Cold weather and continued underinvestment in roads means that conditions will get worse and worse and worse.
“Safety is paramount but we are aware that we will have to squeeze funding as tightly as possible and that it still won’t reach all areas.”
Adrian Tink, RAC motoring strategist, sympathised with the local authorities and the struggle they have faced: "It’s been a tough year for both the roads and the local councils manfully trying to repair them.
“Both have suffered from a harsh winter and budget cuts. The reality is that we’re left with a downward spiral of worsening road surfaces and councils playing catch-up with less resources to do the job. In that situation, it is understandable that councils are opting for cheaper but more short-term repairs to the road surface.
“Unfortunately that is cold comfort to drivers, who are paying record amounts of motoring taxation for what is a worsening service in return. We’re also seeing increasing amounts of damage to cars as a result of potholes which means there is a road safety issue to consider here. Hitting a pothole at even a relatively low speed can easily damage a tyre or cause a car to veer into a dangerous situation.
“We know public finances are tight, but our economy is based around the roads, and the Government need to ensure they have the right level of investment to ensure they are fit for purpose – a state we are clearly some way off."
Local authorities could fill potholes and save money at the same time if they chose to lease modern equipment that do the job much faster, according to the Finance & Leasing Association.
Julian Rose, Head of Asset Finance at the FLA, said: “Leasing is a simple, flexible option that could help local authorities improve their communities, and not just by filling potholes. Many councils are already turning to leasing as an economical way to invest in new equipment of all kinds.”
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