London's highway maintenance backlog surpasses lb1bn
A new report has warned that the cost of the London’s road maintenance backlog has reached a lot more than £1 billion.
According towards the fourth annual State of the City report in the London Technical Advisers Group, there's a serious shortfall in funding for highways repairs and maintenance which has increased over several years. This has been exacerbated by the huge fiscal impact of the pandemic on boroughs’ budgets, boroughs faced £2.2 billion in spending and lost income last year.
Outside London, all English authorities receive an annual government settlement to look after roads and also the local street scene. In 2021/2022 they will receive £1.385 billion for highway maintenance. In comparison, London local authorities receive no funds in the government.
Boroughs are responsible for 95 per cent of London’s road network and are determined to ensure it is fit for purpose, especially for low emissions travel for example walking, running and cycling. People are more prone to use greener active travel options if roads, lanes and pavements are properly maintained, as pedestrians and cyclists tend to be more exposed to the street environment.
London Councils is calling for additional long-term support and investment to ensure Londoners and visitors alike can navigate the city’s roads in a safe, enjoyable and efficient way. Specifically, making national funding schemes open to London boroughs would help to deal with the capital’s massive maintenance backlog. For instance, every year Londoners pay around £500 million annually in national Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) but this is spent in the rest of the country rather than being committed to London’s roads.
Mayor Philip Glanville, chair of London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, said: “London’s highways and roads are a hugely important part of our transport network, providing individuals with the means to circumvent the town. During the pandemic, we view more Londoners embracing walking and cycling, relying on local roads and cycle lanes. Unfortunately, they are facing potholes and uneven road surfaces which presents a genuine challenge for newer cyclists.
“It's alarming that London faces an astounding highway maintenance backlog costing a lot more than £1 billion, which only seems to grow each year because of chronic lack of funding for London boroughs. The price of the pandemic has weighed heavily on borough budgets and without more support and investment, the repairs and maintenance funding shortfall will only continue, risking a decline in road safety and quality every year. All motorists, including drivers, taxi drivers and businesses share these concerns.
“Good roads have an natural part to experience in tackling the weather emergency. If we don't provide safe, pleasant and efficient ways to walk and cycle in our cities, we will miss vital opportunities to reduce transport pollution. Londoners are looking to boroughs and central government for any long-term, sustainable solution to the highways maintenance funding shortfall. Beginning with the return of national Vehicle Excise Duty to London will be a helpful move, especially as numerous drivers in London think this funding is still open to maintain our roads.”
