Further cuts in road maintenance funding in next month’s Autumn Statement would be “catastrophic” for the state of  highways in England and Wales the Local

Government Association has warned the Chancellor. And it is calling on Government to free up money to invest in resurfacing to boost growth and jobs. 

If councils which are already bearing the brunt of public sector cuts be stripped of even more funding many will find it nearly impossible to keep on top of road repairs, the association said. The bill to bring the roads back up to scratch is estimated at £10Bn.

“Notions that widespread resurfacing, which is desperately needed, can be paid for by efficiency savings and smarter use of money are pure fantasy,” said chair of the LGA economy and transport board Councillor Peter Box.

“Should (councils) have their funding cut further or face another severe winter the impact on our already crumbling roads could be catastrophic.”

On current figures the Department for Transport is reducing the highways maintenance budget it gives councils by £442M over the four years of the Comprehensive Spending Review. By 2014/15 councils will get £164M a year less than in 2010/11, a 19% drop. This is on top of a 28% cut in core funding from the Department for Communities & Local Government, money which councils use to support road repairs and which, the LGA said, is increasingly being consumed by spiralling adult social care costs.

The Public Accounts Committee warned Government earlier this year that cuts to road maintenance funding risk being counterproductive.

“Redirecting funding into road maintenance would offer an instant boost to growth,” said Mr Box. “Thousands of jobs in the construction and supply sector would be created immediately.”

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