Badly maintained roads costing small firms £5bn a year

31/01/2013
Highways Reporters

Badly maintained local roads are costing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) £5 billion a year.

Research for the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA).in highlighted the cost of wasted staff time, production delays, increased fuel consumption and vehicle damage repairs.

Sixty per cent of survey respondents said the condition of local roads had deteriorated over the last five years, and over half said the condition had worsened over the past year.

The 1.8 million SMEs in England and Wales employ 9.6 million people and have a combined annual turnover of £1,321 billion.

Poor local road conditions over the last 12 months affected 50 per cent of these SMEs, costing each an average of £8,333, making the total cost to SMEs of poor local road conditions £4.966 billion.

Almost a third (32 per cent) of survey respondents incurred additional costs due to lengthier journey times and used more fuel due to congestion attributable to poor road condition.

In addition, more than a quarter (27 per cent) experienced additional damage to their vehicles due to poorly maintained local roads.

Just one in 25 (4 per cent) respondents thought the local roads used by their business were very well maintained, while nearly 10 times as many (37 per cent) said their local roads were not very well maintained.                                          

Alan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, said: “Properly maintained local roads play a vital role in helping drive the economic recovery; not only by reducing businesses’ costs, but also by enabling them to operate more efficiently and make them more competitive.

"The maintenance work to get local roads back into good shape can be started quickly, and would also secure and even increase employment in the road maintenance sector across the country.

“I urge Government to act now and give local authorities the additional funding they need to improve the condition of local roads, thereby helping SMEs boost the country’s economy”.

The research also showed the condition of local roads is more important to SMEs than the condition of motorways and dual carriageways, or proximity to an airport, railway hub or shipping port, when choosing the location for a new business site.

Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents said well-maintained local roads were important for their business, while just under 59 per cent said the same about well-maintained motorways and dual carriageways.

Funding road maintenance is recognised as being an issue. More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of respondents said they thought the money given to local councils by national government for the maintenance of roads should be ring-fenced.

When asked how road maintenance should be funded, the most popular option - chosen by two in three (66 per cent) respondents – was through road tax receipts.

Fuel duty was a clear second with 54 per cent, while general national taxes (30 per cent) and local taxes (24 per cent) were the next most popular options.

Latest Issue

latest magazine issue

ALSO INSIDE:

  • Exclusive: M25 delays data doesn't add up
  • Autonomous vehicles: Life after the hype
View the latest issue


Highways jobs

Highway Condition & Safety Inspection Officer - CMB982e

Grade 10, £33,945- £34,834 per annum
To undertake regular highways safety and condition inspections of the highways network Cumbria
Recruiter: Cumberland Council

Director of Open Spaces, Leisure & Culture

up to £133,569
Enfield is home to an increasingly diverse population we are investing in our places and people Enfield (London Borough), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Enfield London Borough Council

Director of Economy, Transport and Planning

Circa £140,000
Instantly recognised for our maritime heritage and the UK’s only Island city. Portsmouth, Hampshire
Recruiter: Portsmouth City Council

Bicester Garden Town Programme Manager

Grade M
Cherwell District Council
Recruiter: Cherwell District Council

Mechanical Engineer

£36,648 - £39,186 (pay award pending)
You will be required to maintain effective liaison with other professionals and key stakeholders Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Driver - Northallerton - (IPT234)

£23,893 to £25,119 per annum pro rata
We also undertake registered Local Bus Services (transporting the public) and community transport journeys. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Fleet Compliance Assistant

£26,873-£29,269 per annum
We’re looking for a Senior Fleet Compliance Assistant to join our Fleet Management Team. Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Officer (Traffic and Road Safety) OCC615318

£43,421 - £46,464 per annum
Please note we are actively looking at our ways of working using everything we have learnt and heard from our employees Kidlington, Oxfordshire
Recruiter: Oxfordshire County Council

Senior Officer (Traffic Control) OCC613685

£35,745 - £38,223 per annum
You will take a lead role in creating and implementing traffic signal and information strategies Kidlington, Oxfordshire
Recruiter: Oxfordshire County Council

Officer Traffic Control Centre OCC609561

£29,269 - £32,076 per annum
This role in our team supports the movement of traffic across Oxfordshire by responding to both planned and unplanned events. Kidlington, Oxfordshire
Recruiter: Oxfordshire County Council

Programme Control Officer

£35,745 - £36,648
The ideal candidate will have experience of project or programme management techniques and methodologies. Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Cumberland Council

Senior NEC4 Contract Supervisor CMB1000e

£44,428 – £45,441
Are you an experienced NEC4 Supervisor? Cumbria
Recruiter: Cumberland Council

Major Projects NEC4 Senior SupervisorCMB999e

£53,775 – £55,963
Are you a knowledgeable or accredited NEC4 Supervisor? Cumbria
Recruiter: Cumberland Council

Driver/Loader (Waste Services)

Grade 6 Level 1 - 4 (£26,224 to £28,725 per annum)
Do you want a rewarding role, working outdoors, as part of a committed and hardworking team? York, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: City of York Council

Senior Highways Engineer (Highway Design)

£43,421- £46,464 per annum
The Highway Design and Regulation Team is integral to preserving the integrity and functionality of our highway infrastructure Princess Buildings, Halifax,
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Capital Engineer

£43,421- £46,464 per annum
The Highway Capital Maintenance Team is integral to preserving the integrity and functionality of our highway infrastructure Princess Buildings, Halifax,
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Student Placement Engineer Transportation Infrastructure Service

£23,383 per annum (pay award pending)
You'll complete a series of placements, in different teams. Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Workshop Shift Supervisor - Engine Shed Lane - (094739)

£35,745 - £40,221
North Yorkshire Council operates a fleet of about 960 vehicles across North Yorkshire. Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Assistant Technician / Technician / Senior Technician

£25,119 - £33,024
Lincs Laboratory is UKAS accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 for construction materials sampling and testing Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Operations Technician (Career Grade)

£22,737 - £30,296
Lincs Laboratory is a specialist in-house service of the Highways Services of Lincolnshire County Council. Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Highways Presents

 


Latest Video