UK Roads need £1.2 billion repair job

Britain’s roads need more than a billion quid to be repaired to an acceptable state.

That’s the claim of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), which has surveyed local authorities responsible for fixing such problems as potholes and cracks in the road.

It claims those authorities need £1.9 billion per year to maintain roads properly, but only get £669 million.

And the AIA reckons one of the big factors stopping councils carrying out essential maintenance is the £121 million they have to spend on compensating people who make claims after accidents.

Jim Crick, chairman of the AIA, said: ” The under-funding has reached a ridiculous state.

” Local authorities are forced to give away scarce funds to pay legal fees of those claiming against them because of the poor state of the roads. ”

What do you think? Can you see the evidence of a £1.2 billion shortfall every time you go for a ride? Follow the link on the right to let us know by posting on the News message board.