RSTA calls on Chancellor to focus on local roads

The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has called on the new Chancellor, Philip Hammond, to recognise the value of local roads in his upcoming Autumn Statement.

According to the RSTA, the failure to appreciate the true socio-economic worth of a well-maintained road network is underlined by the decades of under investment that has left a legacy of £12 billion worth of potholed roads in need of investment.

Central government seems to be unable to understand that the local road network is the essential link to the national road network, rail stations, ports and airports. It is also the main means of access to people’s homes, to schools, hospitals and businesses.

The RSTA want Hammond to use his Autumn Statement to correct the anomaly that local roads will not receive any monies from the new vehicle excise duty road fund announced by the previous Chancellor, George Osborne.

The new fund, to be introduced in 2017, is only for trunk roads and motorways. It will not be available for local roads despite their representing 98% of the UK road network.

“Decades of under-investment that has left our local roads in a continuing state of decline,” said Howard Robinson, RSTA chief executive. “The Chancellor should demonstrate that he understands the importance of the local road network and announce that the road fund should be used to invest in both the national and local road network.”

The government is committed to providing £6 billion from 2015 to 2021 for local road maintenance however over the same period drivers in England will provide over £30 billion in vehicle excise duty. “The huge discrepancy between what motorists pay in tax and what is spent on maintaining the roads that they pay tax to drive on should be addressed,” adds Robinson.

“The case for funding a well-maintained road network is strong. The Chancellor should use his Autumn Statement to make that case. If the Chancellor wants a positive economic legacy then he should provide real levels of investment in local roads and work with local authorities to develop long-term funding mechanisms that enable the implementation of programmes of planned maintenance.”