Kiely Group has welcomed the joint initiative of the RAC and the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) to
encourage Government’s recommendation to councils that carry out little or no preventative road maintenance to revisit preventative measures as an option.
The announcement came at the conclusion of Pothole Prevention Week that highlighted the vital role of low-cost, sustainable treatments such as surface dressing and micro surfacing in extending the life of the UK’s road network and reducing the formation of potholes.
To aid this knowledge sharing, RSTA is launching a programme of ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions and Kiely Group will be hosting a free to attend, CPD accredited, in-person event at the Forest of Arden Resort in Warwickshire, providing local authorities and their engineers with the latest guidance and best practice on preventative surface maintenance.
Government road condition data analysed by the RAC found that in the last financial year, half of local highway authorities in England carried out no preventative maintenance on their A roads, while 36% failed to apply any to B, C and unclassified roads. While an improvement on the previous year, these figures highlight the urgent need for better training and understanding of the benefits preventative maintenance brings.
Kiely Group, who deliver nationwide preventative treatments that conform to the highest industry standards, believes knowledge gaps remain a major barrier for many councils. Misconceptions, outdated experiences, and a shortage of skilled
engineers are leading to reactive, short-term fixes that are both more expensive and carbon intensive.
Mike Kiely, Managing Director. said:
“Preventative maintenance is one of the most effective tools we have to keep roads safe, resilient, and cost-efficient. Too often, councils are forced into reactive repairs that are not only more expensive in the long term but also more disruptive for road users. We fully support the RAC and RSTA’s call to ensure decision-makers understand the proven performance and sustainability benefits afforded by treatments such as rejuvenation, surface dressing and micro surfacing. Empowered with the right knowledge, local authorities can deliver better value for money and significantly reduce carbon emissions while keeping roads safer for everyone.”
The event will be free to attend for any local authority or consultant who wishes to attend and they should email [email protected] to register.
(Logo: Kiely Group)
