Millions are needed to repair Wales' roads

Rural and urban roads in Wales are in a worse condition than those in England or Scotland, according to the survey carried out by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE).

The most severe problems are on roads maintained by councils, and experts are now calling for an independent adviser to tackle the problem in the long-term.

The Local Transport Survey 2003 found the state of 75% of Britain's roads, footpaths and cycleways deteriorated in the past year.

The government's 10-year transport plan published in 2000 included a commitment to halt deterioration by 2004, and eliminate the backlog of repairs by 2010.

But the bill has gone up every year since.

Local authorities are valiantly struggling to maintain and improve our roads Welsh Local Government Association

The ICE survey found the poor state of non-trunk roads was made worse because local authorities did not always spend their highway repairs budget on the works.

Trunk roads, which are looked after by the Welsh assembly in Wales, are better maintained.

John Sanders, chairman of the ICE Municipal Engineering Board, said it was currently 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.

"We want to see both revenue and capital funding for transport ring-fenced and allocated amounts guaranteed beyond elections."

The ICE also said its planners were frustrated by what it called a "patch and med, sticking plaster" mentality when it comes to keeping the roads up to scratch.

The ICE's Local Transport Survey found Britain's road maintenance backlog amounts to �150 for every man, woman and child in the country.

The survey was compiled from research amongst local authorities in Great Britain with statutory responsibility for roads and pathways.

More than three-quarters of all journeys are made on the types of road covered by the report.

The Welsh Local Government Association said local authorities were "valiantly struggling" to maintain and improve roads.

It said the latest reports showed that the funding available in Wales was inadequate to deliver all that was expected.

"Clearly for the public, the state of their roads and their general environment are often of the same or of even more importance than, say, education and social services," it said in a statement.

"While the thrust of spending in recent years has rightly concentrated on education and social services, it is vital that other areas such as highways maintenance receive greater recognition in order that poor condition does not increasingly detract from economic opportunity and environmental wellbeing.