Under new government guidance local authorities that fail to demonstrate they are maintaining roads effectively could lose around a third of their £1.6billion funding for the next year, says the Bournemouth Echo.
Councils must now show how they are spending funding to effectively maintain roads in a move which has been called a “positive step towards tackling the UK’s pothole problem”.
Local authorities must publish reports proving they are spending all of their highways funds purely on road maintenance, showing long-term plans for looking after roads and better training for their highways teams.
The road network in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has been ranked among the best maintained in the country according to a new government league table which scores local authorities on the condition of their roads, level of investment, and how effectively councils adopt best practice methods such as technologies to prevent potholes.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, said:
“These new measures are a positive step towards tackling the UK’s pothole problem. From today, councils in England are now required to clearly show how road maintenance funding is being spent, outline long-term plans and improve skills within their highways teams. Greater transparency like this could help make sure investment is being used more effectively to deliver smoother, safer roads.
“Our latest research shows that over 3.4 million potholes were reported across the UK over the last four years, with UK councils paying more than £11m in compensation to drivers for pothole damage during that time. Despite this, potholes continue to be a real safety and financial concern for drivers, with almost half (49 per cent) saying they regularly have to swerve to avoid them. And when damage does occur, the vast majority (86 per cent) of affected drivers end up paying for repairs themselves, at an average cost of £175.
“That’s why it’s really important for drivers to report potholes when they see them. Doing so can help councils prioritise repairs and, with stricter rules now in place, could lead to faster action and safer roads.”
(Picture: National Highways)
