Potholes are a problem but there’s lots of good news for our transport network

Jane Bradley’s article (“A third of Scotland’s roads are deemed to be in need of repair”, 20 March) shows the scale of the challenge regarding road maintenance. There is some good news too, also reported in The Scotsman, about the likely doubling of fines for “botched roadworks”. This is very welcome and shows political determination to tackle an issue that affects every part of our country.

The news comes along at almost the same time that we learn the repairs backlog was estimated at £1.2 billion, and that there had been a 26 per cent reduction in spending on road repairs in Scotland by councils.

Ms Bradley’s article did highlight that Scotland has been spending more on roads than England for many years. This is not surprising as Scotland has a far higher rural population and therefore a clear requirement to spend more on maintaining such an extensive rural roads network.

There is much in transport in Scotland that we can celebrate. Despite the teething problems with the Queensferry Crossing it has made a significant difference to journey times across the Forth, and with £3bn to be spent dualling the A9 Scotland is about to get much smaller and more accessible for its population – great news.

Scotland also showed how it could positively handle severe weather with a fantastic response to some of the most difficult weather conditions seen in a generation, with many great examples of heroic public service.

That spirit and determination to deliver large projects and tackle emergencies is exactly the kind of response needed to tackle Scotland’s damaged roads and pavements.

However, maintaining that kind of programme of activity over what would likely be a 5-10 year programme of improvement is hugely challenging. It needs a consensual approach from the Scottish Government, councils, utility companies and politicians the length and breadth of the land. Hopefully it happens.

The other lesson to learn from this is that the problem has been hugely exacerbated by the reduction in public spending caused by the postlehman Brothers recession. The lesson is that if you want a better NHS, an end to austerity and the problems of potholes fixed, one of the key things you need to do is grow your economy successfully.

Money can fix many problems, and that applies to potholes as much as anything. DONALD ANDERSON The Spinney, Edinburgh We learn that around a third of roads in Scotland are in need of repair, massively more than across the rest of the UK. After ten years of the SNP in charge, the consequences of the nationalists’ maladministration of road maintenance at a local and Scotland-wide level, sadly, is readily apparent.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon assured us recently that her SNP administration is fully prepared for a chemical attacks north of the Border. Based on her party’s ability to fill potholes, I very much doubt it.

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh