The state of the UK’s road network and maintenance management has again been questioned.

This new report has concluded that the DfT needs a better understanding of local road conditions.

Moreover, the money it allocates for capital funding does not seem to be spent according to need, demand, or condition.

Strategically essential

A National Audit Office (NAO) report examines whether the DfT is ensuring value for money through its funding provision for local road maintenance.

Further, it assesses whether it effectively supports local authorities in delivering local road maintenance.

Local roads are essential to everyday travel and the movement of goods, says the report.

Almost all journeys start and end on the local road network.

It consists of 183,000 miles and represents 98% of the total road network.

What’s more, the road surface includes pavements, embankments, bridges, and drainage systems, all of which need to be kept in good condition.

Focus needed

According to the report, the DfT provides between £1.1 and £1.6 billion of capital funding to local authorities each year.

Funding through to 2034 has also been planned.

But given the fiscal constraints, the report says it is essential that DfT secures maximum value from the funding it has available.

However, the report finds that the DfT does not currently have a good enough understanding of the condition of local roads and does not use the limited data it does have to allocate its funding as effectively as possible.

NAO adds that the DfT does not know whether the funds it allocates deliver improvements in road condition and has not updated its guidance to local authorities to share good practices and help them make the most of their limited funds for some years.

Complicated picture

In its conclusion, the report acknowledges that managing the local road network is becoming increasingly complex.

For example, as climate change and autonomous vehicles become more demanding, additional funding from the DfT is essential to equip local authorities to better meet these challenges.

If DfT can address the issues in its current approach, it will be much better placed to improve the value for money of funding in this area and secure an improved and more resilient local road network.

Value for money

Concluding, the report states, “Despite their importance, the condition of local roads is declining, and the backlog to return them to a good state of repair is increasing.”

While the DfT has provided between “£1.1 and £1.6 billion of capital funding each year,” better planning, evaluation, and understanding are needed to ensure “that DfT secures maximum value from the funding it has available.”

“However, at present, DfT does not have a good enough understanding of the condition of local roads and does not use the limited data it does have to allocate its funding as effectively as possible. It does not know whether the funds it allocates are delivering improvements in road condition, and has not updated its guidance to local authorities, to share good practice and help them make the most of their limited funds, for some years.”

Whilst damming in its overview, the National Audit Office believes improvements can be achieved.

“If DfT is able to address the issues in its current approach it will be much better placed to improve the value for money of funding in this area and secure an improved and more resilient local roads network.”

It has to change

The RAC has reacted to the report, describing it as “more damning evidence that England’s local roads are in a truly dire state of repair”.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “It’s bad enough that historically, the Government doesn’t know just how bad our roads are.

“But it’s absolutely staggering that it doesn’t know whether the money it gives to councils has been used effectively. This has to change and we very much hope the new Government acts fast to fix it.

“While dangerous potholes clearly need to be fixed, we also feel more could be done with the funds councils are already given. We believe it’s imperative they carry out more preventative maintenance to stop potholes forming in the first place, rather than simply patching over the problem.”