RSTA Chief Executive Mike Hansford joins MPs and roads experts as they meet face-to-face to help solve Britain’s pothole crisis

The Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), Mike Hansford, has met face-to-face with MPs and other leading industry figures to debate and discuss how to solve the UK’s pothole crisis. More than 70 parliamentarians were yesterday given unrivalled insight in how best to tackle the UK’s pothole crisis at a first-of-its-kind event […]
£3.5m of road improvements to begin in East Riding to help protect against potholes

Road improvements worth £3.5m are due to be carried out in the East Riding this spring and summer to help protect against potholes and other damage. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is investing the money in its annual surface dressing programme, which is set to begin on 23 April and is expected to take 13 […]
Rethinking Road Maintenance: The 2025 ALARM survey, funding challenges and smarter solutions with the RSTA

We discuss how to drive better value from the highway maintenance funding on this week’s Highways Voices, with Mike Hansford, Chief Executive of the RSTA. “Our approach to road maintenance isn’t working,” he says, as he asks are we truly making the most of our funding, or are we stuck in an inefficient cycle of reactive […]
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 […]
Asphalt Group says it’s time to stop moaning about potholes because they can be prevented

Road repair specialist, Asphalt Group Ltd., is calling on the Government to move the narrative away from potholes and focus on delivering ‘Roads that last’. MD Stephen Cooke says he believes that the road repair industry needs a new culture that focuses on delivering roads that last and provide reliable safe journeys for Britain’s 40 […]
Worcestershire County Council completes 2024 surface dressing programme

With 120 miles of roads treated, enhancing longevity and safety across the county, Worcestershire County Council has successfully completed its annual Surface Dressing Programme for 2024. This impressive mileage across the region is equivalent to the distance from Worcester to London. This vital road maintenance has extended the lifespan of road surfaces by more than […]
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 […]
Luton Council starts extensive road improvement programme

A large, multi-million pound programme of works is underway to repair, protect and preserve Luton’s roads. The council’s contractor VolkerHighways, who maintain over 480km of Luton’s roads, supported by specialist companies, will work on over 221,000 m2 of roads in this financial year. These roads will either be completely resurfaced or be treated with surface […]