Concern about the dire state of the nation’s local roads reaches record levels
New research by the RAC suggests drivers’ despair with what it calls the woeful state of Britain’s local roads – which make up 98% of all roads – has reached the highest level ever. For the first time ever, a majority of drivers (56%) surveyed for the RAC Report on Motoring say the condition and […]
Survey suggests UK drivers believe European roads are better
Most drivers that have travelled abroad in Europe prefer the state of roads across the Channel compared to the UK’s pothole-ridden ones, according to new research from RAC Europe. Six-in-10 (62%) motorists say local roads in Europe are in better condition with fewer potholes than equivalent roads in the UK, with only a fifth (17%) […]
Lib Dem pothole pledge is welcomed, but RAC says money is not the only answer
As a part of their 2024 manifesto, the Liberal Democrats have committed to spending £300m to fill in over 1.2 million potholes a year, should they win the General Election. The party’s leader, Sir Ed Davey said: “The Conservatives have driven us down a motorway of decay – roads are crumbling, and motorists are suffering […]
New ways of working needed to fill one million potholes
Local authorities must explore new approaches and ways of working if the proposed multi-year funding towards repairing potholes is to have the desired impact, according to road safety specialists, WJ Group. The news comes after reports that the Labour party has pledged to repair one million potholes if elected next month. The proposed £320 million in funding […]
Highways industry calls on political parties to direct funding to prevent not patch potholes
Following the release of political party manifestos, the highways maintenance industry is urging the next government to avoid patchwork pothole repairs and focus on more preventative methods to save taxpayers money on costly reactive road maintenance. The highways maintenance industry welcomes political parties prioritising funding for local Authorities to reduce the number of potholes across […]
Surrey County Council to spend an extra £8.5 million on surface dressing
An extra £8.5m is to be spent on surface dressing in the largest even programme to be undertaken in Surrey. Work will be carried out over the summer on 85 miles of road, covering 100 routes through the county. Lucy Monie, Surrey County Council’s Director of Highways and Transport, said: “We understand the state of […]
When is a pothole not a pothole?
Local authorities are taking wildly differing approaches to deciding whether or not potholes get fixed, meaning many go unrepaired and continue to pose a risk to road users – especially those on two wheels, analysis conducted by the RAC and Channel 4’s Dispatches (on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm) has found. Three-in-10 of the 206 councils in Great […]
RAC analysis alongside Channel 4’s Dispatches uncovers major disparities in how road defects are actioned by councils
Local authorities are taking wildly differing approaches to deciding whether or not potholes get fixed, meaning many go unrepaired and continue to pose a risk to road users – especially those on two wheels, analysis conducted by the RAC and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme has found. Three-in-10 of the 206 councils in Great Britain with responsibility […]
Record number of potholes filled as crews tackle more than 500 each day
Prolonged heavy rain over the last six months has led to a record number of potholes on Cornwall’s roads. Downpours between October and April have had a dramatic impact, with more than 45,000 potholes reported in 2023/24 – double the number for 2022/23, said the council. In response, Cornwall Highways – which manages Cornwall’s 7,300km […]
Potholes blitz powers on in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council has proved its plans right with a pothole blitz in April – filling in more than seven thousand potholes in the spring month alone. The incredible tally of 7,097 potholes fixed in April comes as part of the local highways authority’s pledge to continue its huge road improvement works across the county this year, said the […]