A longstanding figure in the UK asphalt industry is warning local authorities and the wider highways sector that a new approach to long-term maintenance is vital to improving UK roads.
This comes as the 30 June deadline for local authority progress reports on the filling of potholes looms later this month.
The warning also follows the recent announcement of the Local Transport Grant (LTG), as part of the Spending Review, to local authorities to fund priorities, including improving public transport, introducing new zero-emission buses, enhancing accessibility, addressing congestion, and making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Phil Sabin, Technical Director at sustainable building materials specialist and leading provider of asphalt Holcim UK, who has over 40 years’ experience in the roads and highways sector, said: “It is promising to see the new Local Transport Grant providing not only more funding to improve UK roads and transport, but also a golden opportunity to break the cycle of short-term fixes with road repair and enhancement.
“The success of delivering futureproof, sustainable roads in the UK is going to rely on local authorities, the central government and us as an industry abandoning the current papering-over-the-cracks approach to road maintenance and repair.
“This means discarding the model of annual maintenance cycles and patching up roads with temporary surfacing materials that may solve short-term issues, but do not stand the test of time. Instead, preventative maintenance strategies over a minimum of five-year cycles, in addition to prioritising more durable and sustainable surfacing, are routes that could support local authorities with delivering higher quality, safer roads for UK users.”
The government has already earmarked £1.6 billion to tackle potholes, in addition to a further £4.8 billion set aside for motorways and A-roads. Alongside this financial incentive, the government has made it clear that transparency is a priority, with failure to submit annual progress reports resulting in 25% of the uplift being withheld. As public scrutiny of potholes and road conditions continues to grow, it will be even more imperative that local governments work with the industry to ensure repairs and maintenance are successful and long-lasting.
Sabin continued: “While it is encouraging to see more government funding and policy committed to road repairs, there is still a big gap between that set aside and the predicted £17bn repair bill that the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report states we are facing. With the risk of funds being withheld, it is vital that local authorities consider a longer-term approach, focusing on value and longevity over speed of repair to make the best use of the funding available.
“We understand there is a very challenging, long and expensive journey ahead in the UK to remedy the standard of roads. However, it is crucial that we, the industry and local and central government, collaborate to deliver safe and sustainable roads and highways now and for generations to come. A failure to change our way of working to prioritise longevity and preventative maintenance will only see the state of UK road surfaces worsen.”
Holcim UK’s solutions for pothole repairs and long-term road resilience are already supporting local authorities in reducing road failures and increasing road lifespans. For more information on Holcim UK’s pothole and road maintenance expertise, visit: www.holcim.co.uk/products/asphalt/potholes
