Highway authorities' funding for next six years to be unveiled as satisfaction with roads rises

The minister for local highways Robert Goodwill says the Government will consult on how to allocate £6bn funding for local highway maintenance between 2015 and 2021 in the next two weeks.

Goodwill made the announcement at the National Highways and Transport conference, where results were unveiled from its 2014 survey, showing that only two authorities have satisfaction ratings for highway condition over 50%: Portsmouth and Transport for London. Goodwill said that the survey shows that "road condition is the biggest concern... I am pleased to see that we are moving in the right direction" he said of the results. 

Satisfaction levels are improving, albeit from a low point last year, he acknowledged - last year, for the fifth year running, the public registered the highest levels of dissatisfaction with highway condition. 

Goodwill said: "This is in no small part due to the actions the Government has taken, from additional funding, including the £168m pothole fund awarded in June, to the excellent progress made by the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme." He added: "There is significant scope for many councils to change their approach.

"I want to see more of them emulating the best performing authorities... [who are] proving it is possible to transform roads and services within strict budgets."