News
Audit Commission Report
On 26 May, The Audit Commission published a damning report on the state of England's roads entitled 'Going the distance - Achieving better value for money in road maintenance'. News that will come as no surprise to members, the report stated that Improvements to the road network have stalled and the overall condition is starting to deteriorate. The report highlights that the cost of maintaining England's 236,000 miles of local roads is now 50% higher than 10 years ago but over the next 3 years local authorities will receive a 26% reduction in funding and a 16% drop in capital LTP funding.
Commenting on the release of the report, Steve Spender, President of IHE said:
'Members of The IHE are at the forefront of dealing with the damage to road surfaces caused by the severe weather conditions. Publication of the audit commission report is timely and very much welcomed by The IHE since it highlights the plight of local authorities up and down the country in responding to the expectations of road users. IHE members have substantial experience in collaborative and partnership working with industry in order to obtain best value for money and building better resilience into our networks. This is recognised by The Audit Commission but tight budget settlements for local authorities over the next few years will often mean the industry running to stand still especially if we experience more severe winters.'
