MPs launch inquiry into the poor state of local roads

The Transport Committee has launched an inquiry into the state of local roads in England.

Local roads make up 97 per cent of England’s road network length and carry two-thirds of traffic and almost all cyclists. Chair of the Transport Committee, Lilian Greenwood MP, has promised to address the “plague of potholes” and investigate funding constraints.

“We know that this is a high priority issue among the public and I hope our inquiry will help put the onus on the Government to address it sooner rather than later," said Greenwood, who is the Labour MP for Nottingham South.

"This plague of potholes represents a major headache for all of us. The consequences of a deteriorating local road network are significant – undermining local economic performance and resulting in direct costs to motorists, through damage to road vehicles,” she added.

"This inquiry will be welcomed by drivers who have to endure the dire state of our local roads on a daily basis."

Many local authorities are struggling to find the funding to repair roads. According to the latest Asphalt Industry Association survey, English councils have seen a marked decrease in the frequency of road re-surfacing, dropping from once every 55 years to once every 92 years.

According to Cycling UK, potholes have been a contributory factor in 22 deaths and 368 serious injuries to cyclists since 2007.

RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “This inquiry will be welcomed by drivers who have to endure the dire state of our local roads on a daily basis. The reality is that potholes are dangerous to all road users, particularly cyclists.

“We will be submitting evidence to the Transport Committee on behalf of our eight million members and not least our breakdown data which shows that in the first quarter of 2018 we saw the number of breakdown faults attributed to potholes was double compared to the same period in 2017 and drivers are now facing vehicle repair bills running into hundreds of million pounds.”

The Transport Committee is inviting drivers to send written submissions to the inquiry on local roads funding and governance.