A new traffic light system shows the areas graded red for the state of their roads and how they are using taxpayer’s cash to tackle the scourge of potholes.
Councils are under pressure to tackle potholes. (Image: Getty)
Local highway authorities have been named and shamed as drivers demand action to tackle the nation’s “pothole plague”. A new “traffic light system” grades councils on the state of their roads and how they are using taxpayers’ cash to fix potholes and maintain highways.
Thirteen local authorities have been graded red – Bedford, Bolton, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Leicestershire, North Lincolnshire, Slough, Suffolk, Waltham Forest, Westmorland and Furness and West Northamptonshire.
Councils are under pressure to deliver improvements following the announcement of £7.3 billion in funding.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long, drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate. I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole – money they should never have to spend in the first place.”
Edmund King, the president of the AA president and a founding member of the Pothole Partnership, said: “The top transport demand for 96% of AA members is fixing potholes with increased investment in repairing and upgrading roads.”
Simon Williams, head of policy for the RAC, said that “drivers have for too long been left with substandard roads”.
The new traffic light system shows where improvement is needed (Image: Department for Transport)
Caroline Julian, director of British Cycling, warned: “For cyclists, potholes are far more than an annoyance. One unexpected impact can cause a serious crash, life-changing injury or, in the worst cases, a fatality.
“Safe riding depends on safe roads, and a smooth, well-maintained surface isn’t a luxury for cyclists; it’s essential for their safety.”
The Department for Transport has described a ‘pothole plague’ and will expect results on the new investment. It says red-rated LHAs will receive dedicated support to bring them in line with best practices, backed by £300,000 worth of “expert planning and capability assistance”.
Charlotte Hill, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet member for potholes, highways and transport, said her region’s red rating “makes no sense at all”.
She said: “We have no idea how the DfT has judged us to be in their red category. They have not told us why they judge us to be red and seem to have told the media before they have told us how they come to this conclusion.
“We strongly refute the fact that we are not an improving highways service and have asked for a meeting with officials as soon as possible.’
She argued that Derbyshire had made “huge strides” over the past four years, saying: “We’ve been underfunded by the Government for road maintenance for decades.”
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden was previously Tory chairman (Image: Getty)
Tom Hunt of the Local Government Association warned: “Councils face a £17billion backlog of road repairs.”
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: “The Labour Government are waging war on their own councils. It is refreshing to have Labour ministers laying bare just how badly Labour-run councils handle basic road repairs.
“If you live in Bolton, Waltham Forest, Greenwich, or any of the other Labour councils up for election in May, this map is the warning label. Conservative-run councils like Hillingdon and Essex get on with fixing roads.”
