LGA wants fuel duty spent on improving roads

07/07/2014 | HIGHWAYS REPORTERS

Investing fuel duty back into road maintenance would allow councils to bring crumbling roads back up to scratch within a decade, the Local Government Association (LGA) has claimed.

The LGA, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, said the government could inject a further £1 billion a year into roads maintenance by investing just two pence per litre of existing fuel duty. This should not be paid for by increasing fuel duty rates.

This could help councils tackle the damage done to our roads by recent harsh winters and decades of underfunding by successive governments which has seen the national backlog of road repairs rise to £12bn – up £1.5bn in the past year alone.

The government has recently responded to council calls for extra funding to repair local roads which include giving councils a share of a £168 million fund to fix potholes last month.

But the LGA says this is simply not enough to free councils trapped in an endless cycle of only being able to patch up a deteriorating network which will always be more expensive than longer-term preventative work.

The LGA wants the government to commit to vital long-term investment by handing councils a slice of fuel duty cash for road repairs and maintenance.

Councils will unveil a blueprint for the next government to tackle the key issues facing the country including how to fix our deteriorating roads at this week’s LGA annual conference.

Cllr Peter Box, chair of the LGA’s economy and transport board, said: “Our roads are in such disrepair that it will now take more than a decade and £12bn to bring them up to scratch. Tackling this ever-growing national repair bill must be a priority and the government can do this by injecting an extra £1bn a year into roads maintenance - funded by investing two pence a litre from existing fuel duty.

“Motorists pay billions to the Treasury each year in fuel duty when they fill up their car at the pumps only to then have to drive on roads that are decaying after decades of underfunding. They deserve roads fit for the 21st century.

“Reinvesting a small proportion of fuel duty would allow councils to bring our roads up to scratch over the next decade. Councils are fixing around two million potholes each year despite funding cuts and multi-million pound compensation costs for pothole damage but are trapped in an endless cycle of patching up our deteriorating network.

“This is leaving our country sleep-waking into a roads crisis that is escalating at an alarming pace. It will only get worse with the government’s own traffic projections predicting a potential increase in local traffic of more than 40% by 2040. Long-term and consistent investment and better use of motoring taxation is now desperately needed to allow councils to provide widespread improvement of our roads.”

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recruiter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recruiter: Hull City Council

Principal Transport Planner

£45,718 to £49,764
Do you have considerable experience in the transport strategy and policy, and are you looking for your next career development opportunity? Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Sheffield City Council

Structures Delivery Manager

Grade 13 £47,653 - £51,296 per annum (pay award pending)
We’re looking for an experienced and motivated Structures Delivery Manager to lead the delivery of structural asset investment Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Head of Highway Operations

Grade 15 £61,048 - £66,960 per annum (Pay award pending)
Here at Derbyshire County Council, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structures WMF3037e

£45,718 to £46,731
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Technician - WMF3040e

£27,711 - £28,624
Are you an organised and motivated individual who wants to make a difference to how our roads are managed? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2114e

£37,035 - £37,938
Are you an experienced and motivated professional looking to take the next step in your traffic management career? Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Project Delivery Senior Team Leader

£74,480 - £85,964
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification) Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking an organised and enthusiastic individual to join our South Lakeland team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Project Delivery Team Leader

£57,710 - £71,842
Are you an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer (or equivalent professional qualification). Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts Council

£52000 - £61000 per annum
Shared Service Manager (Waste) North Herts CouncilNorth Herts CouncilPermanent, Full Time£52,866 - £61,866 per annum, plus car allowance (pay award pe England, Hertfordshire, Letchworth Garden City
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2102e

£37,035 - £37,938
This is a key role supporting the delivery a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Assistant Traffic Management Technician - WMF2104e

£25,584 - £25,992
This is a key support role, helping to deliver a wide range of traffic and road safety schemes across South Lakeland. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Flood Risk Engineering and Strategy Officer

£49,764 - £55,623
In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce Coventry, West Midlands
Recruiter: Coventry City Council

Engineer

£44,430 - £51,663
This post is within the Highways Design and Delivery Team. London (Greater)
Recruiter: Tower Hamlets London Borough Council

Head of Highways Operations

Salary
Somerset Council
Recruiter: Somerset Council

Highway Network Technician - WMF2090e

£27,711 - £28,624
We are looking to recruit a friendly and motivated candidate to join our Highways Maintenance Team as Highways Network Technician. Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW