These are among the key findings of a new survey conducted to mark National Pothole Day last Friday. The results also showed that close to a quarter of councils receive between 50 and 100 complaints from members of the public about potholes each month.

In addition, 55% of respondents stated they do not believe central Government fully understands the impact that the current funding gap for road maintenance has had on the pothole crisis.

Survey results also showed that 68% of highway contractors think their employers need more funding for road repairs. The survey was conducted by UltraCrete.

At an industry discussion last month, Government’s £2.5Bn pothole fund announced at last year’s budget was welcomed but further investment was urged, with a number of local roads now considered to be in “dangerous” condition.

Further details of the discussion will be included in the February edition of Transportation Professional.

Meanwhile, a move away from current the “stop / start” approach to local roads investment was urged by industry group the Asphalt Industry Alliance on National Pothole Day.

The group’s chair Rick Green said the last 12 months have been challenging for those responsible for maintenance, who have “worked tirelessly to ensure that roads played a vital role in keeping the country functioning” through the Covid pandemic.

“Potholes are a symptom of an underfunded network,” he said. “What’s needed is a longer term approach to investment in effective road maintenance, which will improve the condition of our local roads and help prevent potholes from forming in the first place.”

Motoring group the RAC also published new data last week showing that, despite lower overall traffic volumes due to the pandemic, assistance was called for by close to 1500 drivers due to pothole related breakdowns in the final three months of 2020: an almost identical number to the same period in 2019.

“We realise council budgets are under incredible pressure due to Coronavirus, but we badly need the Government to recognise the significance of local roads and take a fresh look at how to fund them,” said RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes.

He added: “The Government’s approach of allocating funding to councils from various pots on an annual basis means authorities are always having to play catch up by fixing potholes rather than focusing on preventative maintenance.

“We would prefer to see them make five year funding settlements which would allow councils to make longer term plans for their roads.” This, he said, could be funded by allocating 2p from the existing fuel duty to road maintenance.

Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said:

“Everyone depends on the UK’s network of local highways; they are at the heart of our communities and these arteries of our country need to be invested in to ensure fitness to compete in the global economy. Despite the efforts of central and local government, the LHN is not in a good state and not up to the job of supporting the country’s ambitions for the future.”

“CIHT has repeatedly called for the government to commit to deliver a four-point strategy for the Local Highway Network that will create a vision, funding and focus over the next ten years.”

“Our recommendations include the need to establish a new inflation-linked local highways fund (on top of the current funding); creation of an improved system of monitoring and a national condition database.”

“CIHT believe that through the recommendations we outlined in ‘Improving Local Highways’, we can show how the highway network will support the delivery of a carbon-neutral system, create sustainable, green, resilient, and accessible places, make transport healthier, and help the economy grow.”

The full report and supporting research is available here