Pothole problem requires longer term strategy

Phil Sabin, technical director at asphalt specialist Holcim UK with over 40 years’ experience in the highways sector, claims recent announcements from the government give cause for hope. Sabin says the Local Transport Grant (LTG) - announced as part of Labour’s Spending Review – is a chance to move away from the patchwork road fixes that have become the norm.   

“It is promising to see the new Local Transport Grant providing not only more funding to improve UK roads and transport, but also a golden opportunity to break the cycle of short-term fixes with road repair and enhancement,” said Sabin. 

“The success of delivering futureproof, sustainable roads in the UK is going to rely on local authorities, the central government and us as an industry abandoning the current papering-over-the-cracks approach to road maintenance and repair.

“This means discarding the model of annual maintenance cycles and patching up roads with temporary surfacing materials that may solve short-term issues, but do not stand the test of time. Instead, preventative maintenance strategies over a minimum of five-year cycles, in addition to prioritising more durable and sustainable surfacing, are routes that could support local authorities with delivering higher quality, safer roads for UK users.”