Warwickshire County Council has been named the country’s joint top performing county council for highway maintenance in a key survey for the second year in a row.
The county was among 111 highway authorities, including 28 county councils, that took part in the 2019 National Highways and Transport (NHT) Satisfaction Survey.
It was the highest rated county for highway maintenance and dealing with potholes alongside Norfolk CC, as well as the best county council (with Hampshire, Suffolk and Devon) for cold weather gritting.
In November, Norfolk CC said it was the highest rated county council in the overall survey, which also asked residents about public transport, walking and cycling, congestion, accessibility and road safety.
Cllr Jeff Clarke,Warwickshire's portfolio holder for transport and planning, said: ‘We make it our priority to focus our efforts and spending on what people tell us matters most to them. To score so highly in areas including condition of pavements, dealing with potholes and undertaking cold weather gritting, is particularly gratifying as these are all areas people consistently say are important to them.
‘I am particularly pleased with the cold weather gritting score as this service is particularly important to our residents. We have clearly improved our readiness and service arrangements, but there is always room for improvement.
‘One aspect that has been identified is prompt supply of information on roads. Work is already underway as we develop our communications strategy and continue to invest time in building our social media presence.’
The NHT survey was carried out during June, July and August 2019.
The 2019 NHT Survey Annual Report showed improved satisfaction across road condition indicators, with condition of road surfaces up 6% but a fall in satisfaction against the cycling indicators.
The 29th Annual Cold Comfort conference and exhibition returns to Harrogate on 13 and 14 May 2020.
