A fifth of local roads are in poor condition, says report

ONE IN five local roads is in a poor condition as councils face a huge funding deficit to tackle potholes, according to a new report.

Some 20 per cent of carriageways in England and Wales have less than five years of life remaining before they become unusable, researchers said.

This represents more than 40,000 miles of carriageways. Spending on roads maintenance is “way short” of the amount needed, the annual study by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) stated.

The report found the gap between the amount local authorities in England and Wales received to keep carriageways in “reasonable order” and what they actually needed was £556m in 2017/18.

AIA chairman Rick Green warned that the deterioration of local roads “continues to accelerate” because maintenance funding has “fallen short for so many years”.

Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, said the amount of money spent on local roads is “miles behind” what is allocated to motorways and major A-roads.

Motoring groups claimed the AIA report shows a new approach is needed to combat potholes. RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes called on the Government to provide councils with “the certainty of reliable longterm funding” so they can finally bring every road up to a standard road users think is acceptable.

Councils filled 1.5m potholes in the past year, continuing the recent downward trend from a high of 2.7m in 2015. Since 2007, defective road surfaces have contributed to 22 cyclist deaths and 368 serious injuries.

A colourful flamingo is pictured at the opening of two new enclosures at the Lotherton Hall bird garden in Leeds. One unit houses Chilean flamingos and the other Humboldt penguins. The estate is home to an extensive collection of endangered birds.