Special Feature – National Pothole Day: RSTA calls for local authorities to review highway maintenance strategies
On National Pothole Day 2025 the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) is making a ‘call for action’ for local highway authorities to review their maintenance strategies, and to improve their knowledge and understanding of surface treatments, including awareness of the appropriate times to use them based on road condition, to prevent future formation of potholes. […]
RSTA welcomes REA statement on 2024 rise in use of surface dressing but says there is more progress to be made
The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has welcomed news by the Road Emulsion Association (REA) that indicates an increasing trend in the amount of surface dressing carried out by local highway authorities in 2024, following a twelve year decline, and lowest reported use of surface dressing in 2023. But the association also said there was […]
We are here to help-RSTA issues plea for local authorities wanting to include surface treatments as part of their highway maintenance strategy
The Chancellor’s budget announcement last week of an additional £500million for road maintenance was great news for local highway authorities and motorists. Now, the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) is offering help to local authorities that so far have not included surface treatments in their highway maintenance strategies. But, said the association, it is essential […]
Using additional highways funding for surface treatments will bring savings and a reduction in carbon, says RSTA
Whilst investing this additional £500million highways funding into addressing the immediate pothole issue, consideration should also be made into investing into preventative maintenance, otherwise further roads will fall into decline in the future, according to the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA). Additional funding for highway maintenance announced in the Autumn Budget, presents an opportunity for […]
Mike Hansford wins “Best of Britain” award at LCRIG’s DfT Special Recognition event
The new Chief Executive of the RSTA, Mike Hansford has won the prestigious “Best of Britain” accolade at this year’s DfT Special Recognition Awards at the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) Strictly Highways event in Blackpool. The former Highways Asset Management Team Leader at Dorset Council was nominated by colleagues at Dorset for the […]
Pothole Prevention Week – talking about the solutions, not just the problem, on this week’s Highways Voices podcast!
This week, the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has launched Pothole Prevention Week as part of its on-going commitment to highlight the benefits of surface treatments that prevent potholes from forming in the first place. Joining us on Highways Voices for this conversation (see below), is Mike Hansford, the new Chief Executive of the RSTA […]
RSTA launches Pothole Prevention Week-bringing awareness to the solutions, not just the problem
The Road Surface Treatments Associations (RSTA)’s very first Pothole Prevention Week campaign takes place this week. The aim isn’t to bring awareness about the problem of potholes, because that is already widely understood, but to instead talk exclusively about the solutions that are available to local authorities and other road operators, not only to fix […]
WDM and WJ Group to sponsor the RSTA’s ‘The Facts & The Friction’ conference 2024
The RSTA has announced the next The Facts and The Friction event, which will be held at Bolton Football Stadium on Tuesday 10th September. Following successful events in Reading and Perth in 2022 and 2023, W.D.M Limited and WJ Group will again be sponsoring the friction-focused seminar, targeting participants from the North of England and […]
Mike Hansford to become next Chief Executive of RSTA
Mike Hansford is to become the new Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA). He will leave his current position as Highway Asset Manager at Dorset Council and start his new role on August 29. Mr Hansford will work alongside current Chief Executive Paul Boss in a hand-over period, before he retires after […]
A new approach to road repairs is needed if we want to improve the condition of our roads, says RSTA
The life-expectancy of a roads in the UK could be increased, and potholes significantly reduced if local authorities and their private sector contractors adopt a more proactive approach to highway maintenance alongside other treatments such as resurfacing. This would mean central government would eventually be spending far less on reactive repairs such as filling in […]
