Road repair budgets increase, but one in six roads are still in a state - asphalt industry

Over the last year road maintenance budgets increased and 33% more potholes were filled, according to a survey published today. But there has been no reduction in the amount needed to bring the road network up to an acceptable standard, the Asphalt Industry Alliance claims.

The AIA's annual 'ALARM' survey reports that one in six roads in England and Wales are still classed as being in poor condition and £12.2bn is needed to get the local road network back into reasonable condition. The AIA said that the money spent on filling 2.7 million potholes had been wasted.

The industry wants local highway authorities - which reported a 24% drop in their budget shortfall from 2014 to £3.2m - to spend more of their available funds on permanent repairs. The report highlights that the backlog of repairs has again increased - time it would take to clear the backlog of repairs is still increasing, despite more funding: 13 years, up from 12 years the year before. In 2014 there was a sharp increase in the backlog of repairs after flood damage.

Councils ruled by all three main political parties have claimed that the scope for efficiency savings in road maintenance is coming to an end and that only Scottish-style tax powers to lever in more funds can now tackle the backlog.

The survey also found a dramatic increase in the amount paid in road user compensation claims, which doubled to £20.2m, and also saw the costs in processing claims rise to £17.8m.