The UK’s independent public spending watchdog, the National Audit Office (NAO), recently issued a report entitled The condition and maintenance of local roads in England.

The report draws attention to the essential role that the country’s local roads – which constitute 98% of the total road network – play in enabling day-to-day travel and the movement of goods.

With nearly all journeys starting and ending on local roads, it is crucial for reasons of safety, congestion, and travel choices that these roads are well-maintained.

What were some of the key conclusions of the NAO report?

The independent Parliamentary body made a variety of important statements and conclusions in its report. These included, but were not limited to:

  • There are presently significant gaps in the information that the Department for Transport (DfT) holds on the condition of England’s local roads
  • The limited data collected by the department indicate that local roads’ surface condition has remained stable over time. However, information from industry bodies and road users suggests there has been deterioration in the condition of local roads
  • DfT has estimated that local road maintenance has a benefit-to-cost ratio of 7:1
  • The department’s data do not enable it to understand how the funding that it provides for local road maintenance brings about an improvement in such roads’ condition
  • In contrast to the longer-term funding provided for the strategic road network, DfT’s funding for local roads has tended to be short-term and provided through multiple funds
  • When DfT is allocating funding to local authorities, it does not account for the condition of roads or the factors that contribute to their deterioration
  • While the department has confirmed additional long-term funding of £8.3 billion for the maintenance of local roads, clarity is still awaited on how this will be allocated
  • DfT needs to plan for how it will support local authorities to meet challenges in relation to the road network, such as climate change and the introduction of autonomous vehicles.

“Sustainable transport has many benefits beyond immediate travel”

Among those responding to the NAO’s report was Sue Percy, chief executive of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT).

The organisation said that it welcomed the report’s publication, given the emphasis it placed on the need for proper road maintenance. The charity said there was a requirement to ensure the country’s footways, cycleways, and highways were well-maintained and helped unlock broader societal benefits, including enhanced health and wellbeing.

Ms Percy observed that the CIHT manifesto “makes clear that sustainable transport has many benefits beyond immediate travel, including the positive impact on people’s health and reducing health and social care costs.

“This includes exercise from active travel, better air quality from replacing car journeys with walking or cycling, economic benefits from relieved congestion, improved public health from enabling people to lead longer, healthier, and more independent lives.”

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