Government targets 'will not be met'

The research, compiled from Britain's local authorities, estimates there is a �8.3 billion backlog of maintenance to be carried out.

The poor state of the local highways network means the government will fail to meet its 10-year Transport Plan targets, says the Institution.

Do we want to sit back and watch our local roads disintegrate into a network of potholed cart tracks? John Sanders, ICE

The Transport Plan, published in 2000, included the commitment to halt the deterioration in local roads by 2004, and eliminate the maintenance backlog by 2010.

The survey says the problem is being exacerbated by evidence that local authorities are spending money meant for roads on other things such as health and education.

Footpaths are also deteriorating

John Sanders, chairman of the ICE Municipal Engineering Board says: "At present, it is up to each local authority to decide how much of their allocated highways maintenance budget they spend accordingly.

"In some instances, little more than half is currently used to address the deterioration."

He said road planners were frustrated by the "patch and mend" mentality of road maintenance and said money for roadworks should be "ring-fenced".

He added: "Do we want to sit back and watch our local roads disintegrate into a network of potholed cart tracks?

"Are we happy to have streets in a state of constant disrepair?"

What do you think of the state of the roads where you live? Click here or scroll to the bottom of the page to send us your views.

Many of the roads in my area are in a terrible state, believe it or not, this is due to the council only doing half a job in my view. Filling in potholes with tarmac but leaving the edge higher than the existing road which in time comes away as cars drive over it, instead of doing the whole road. Perhaps if the council used less money on laying the many many sleeping policeman on our roads, then there would be no need to increase our council and road tax each year and repair our roads properly!
Luke Broadbent, England

The evidence is quite clear here in Brighton, where the council is obsessed with obstructing road users to the maximum extent possible, spending money desperately needed for highway maintenance on so called 'traffic management (congestion causing) schemes', cycle lanes to nowhere, bus stops built out into the middle of roads to stop vehicles passing stopped buses, random kerb build outs and mini roundabouts, not to mention the various plans to reduce the number of useable lanes at major junctions, and the exponential growth of the traffic signal population. The authority's own surveyors report that many of the major roads into the town are way beyond the end of their useful life and need complete renewal, but the required budgets always go elsewhere, despite the year on year council tax rises at many times the rate of inflation. (16% this year !)
Paul, Great Britain

There is never enough money to repair the roads, but always enough money to build speed bumps Steve Fermor, Worcester

There is never enough money to repair the roads, but always enough money to build speed bumps. These are proven not to work, the faster you drive over them, the less they are felt, so they only slow down slow drivers. I think potholes are left to make driving as unpleasant as possible, because everyone hates the car these days, except for the tiny amount (38,000,000) of us who drive.
Steve Fermor, Worcester

The roads around Ealing (West London) are in a bad state and when they do re surface the road you can bet you're life that a utility company will come along and dig up the same road only to repair it by patching it up leaving it un even. Can't the council communicate with the local companies so that they can dig the road once and relay the pipes, cables and repair the sewers all in one go saving money and disruption? After all We pay road Tax, Tax on petrol, Insurance Tax and Vat when your car goes into the garage for repair. There is no excuse.
Michael Wood, UK

I recently had to repair my front suspension due to a collision with a large pot hole. This was the last straw that had me writing a letter to the council responsible for that road. However a couple of days later, before I had finished and sent the letter, that road was being repaired. It is now in great condition. In fact, I feel Watford council deserve some recognition for the fact that they are resurfacing many of their roads, and are managing it with surprisingly little disruption to traffic.
Ferret, UK

The problem with poor maintenance is not just in England. Here is the USA the local authorities have had their budgets reduced by the federal government policies and the economic downturn. We also have a problem that the roads in the USA are built to a lower standard in the first place than in England, so when they start to go bad the whole road gets full of potholes. Having lived in the third world I can assure you the roads in and around Washington DC are worse than those I saw in many African cities.
Mike Thompson, USA

Badgering your local council does work Kealey Nitchen, England

The road where I live in south east London was recently voted the worst road in London. It has been in a disgusting condition for the last 8 years. But, finally, after numerous letters to the local council, I have received a letter to inform me that the road will be resurfaced in November (subject to available funds of course!) I can only say to others using roads that are in an unacceptable and dangerous state that sometimes badgering your local council does work, you may be luckier than me, it might not even take 8 years!!
Kealey Nitchen, England

The state of the roads in North Somerset are that of a third world country. When driving, I spend most of the time looking out for potholes instead of concentrating on other road users. It's like being on a mobile phone all of the time because you are permanently distracted.
Richard Green, England

The roads within the Coventry City boundary are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Even the policy of pothole filling task quick reaction task forces is not keeping pace with the problem. The City Council do not appear to have a policy of road resurfacing and are obviously relying on the national government to panic into supplying extra funds, having spent their annual road budget on their own pet schemes.
S E Bennett, England

I'm convinced that between the speed humps and the potholes the life expectancy of my car is greatly reduced Rees Tidbury, UK

Considering all the taxes I pay to be able to drive in the UK, I get increasingly annoyed at the terrible condition of my local roads, of which the only money invested seems to be wasted on badly positioned newly created mini roundabouts, single file gateways and speed humps. I'm convinced that between the speed humps and the potholes the life expectancy of my car is greatly reduced - repairs being another additional cost. Spend the 'road safety' budget on more street CCTV (it's better to catch and fine offenders) and return OUR roads to a smooth pleasant condition similar to all other modern countries.
Rees Tidbury, UK

I live in South-East London, and cycle to work in the City. I endure pot-holes and rough "terrain" for most of my 30 minutes commute.
Virginie Casin, England

The local roads in rural Stirling district are in an appalling state, effectively a series of interconnected potholes. One person I know compares our local roads to an old sock, with the comment that soon there will be no sock left to darn!
David Lonsdale, Scotland

The roads in Oxfordshire (Henley area) are terrible! I have had to replace two tyres and a wheel whilst my fianc�e has replaced one tyre all due to damage caused by excessively large potholes! Considering the amount raised in motoring related taxation (Including fuel duties) it is an appalling state of affairs which has become more obvious since labour took power.
Alistair, UK

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