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Concerns over road trench digging 'Millions of holes' dug in roads
(about 5 hours later)
Utilities companies dug up local roads in England and Wales 2.5m times last year, according to a new report. Utilities companies dug up local roads in England and Wales 2.5 million times last year, according to a new report.
The Asphalt Industry Alliance claims there is an 11-year backlog of road-resurfacing work. The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) claimed there was an 11-year backlog of road-resurfacing work.
The report into councils' road maintenance raises the concern that digging trenches in a road surface reduces its life-span by a third. The report into councils' road maintenance raised concerns that digging trenches in a road reduces its life-span by a third.
The Department for Transport said it wanted "regular, well-managed maintenance" of roads by councils.The Department for Transport said it wanted "regular, well-managed maintenance" of roads by councils.
The AIA also suggests there is a £1bn pound shortfall in council maintenance budgets, with some roads facing a 65-year wait for resurfacing. The AIA also suggested there was a £1bn shortfall in council maintenance budgets, with some roads facing a 65-year wait for resurfacing.
Local authorities also estimated they were receiving only half the budget they needed to keep roads in a reasonable condition. Local authorities estimated they were receiving only half the budget they needed to keep roads in a reasonable condition.
This is the first time councils have revealed the huge number of holes utilities companies dig up the roads. Anyone who's dug a hole will realise that what comes out of it never goes back in David Weeks, Asphalt Industry Alliance
'Patch and mend' This is the first time councils have revealed the huge number of holes utilities companies dig up in the roads.
Deep trenches for pipes or cables cut through several layers of the road surface, and the survey warns that the resulting scars make it more difficult to maintain roads. The survey warned scars left by deep trenches for pipes or cables cut through several layers can make it more difficult to maintain roads.
In an attempt to reduce disruption and damage, the government has given councils new powers to issue permits for road works and fine companies which take too long to complete them.In an attempt to reduce disruption and damage, the government has given councils new powers to issue permits for road works and fine companies which take too long to complete them.
David Weeks, the director of AIA, said there was "no joined up thinking" when it came to trenches being dug.
"Anyone who's dug a hole will realise that what comes out of it never goes back in, and that's the problem with these trenches.
"They dig them up but they can't compact the surface properly, and eventually that patch that they've done will give way, and it will lead to a pothole.
"The other problem is just the amount of trenches that are being dug with no joined up thinking."
Increased investment
Sheila Rainger, acting director of the RAC Foundation, said councils often have to "patch and mend" roads.Sheila Rainger, acting director of the RAC Foundation, said councils often have to "patch and mend" roads.
"The Traffic Management Act increases the powers of local authorities in England and Wales to set binding start and finish dates, order re-surfacing work, and fine those companies who abuse the system. "The Traffic Management Act increases the powers of local authorities in England and Wales to set binding start and finish dates, order resurfacing work, and fine those companies who abuse the system.
"We urge all local authorities to exercise these powers as strongly as possible, whether through the new fixed penalty schemes or through court action.""We urge all local authorities to exercise these powers as strongly as possible, whether through the new fixed penalty schemes or through court action."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Since 2002 the government has more than trebled funding to local authorities for investing in their roads.A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Since 2002 the government has more than trebled funding to local authorities for investing in their roads.
"We recently announced a three-year settlement which will mean funding of £809m in 2010/11, up from £265m in 2000/01, in addition to funding also provided for routine maintenance."We recently announced a three-year settlement which will mean funding of £809m in 2010/11, up from £265m in 2000/01, in addition to funding also provided for routine maintenance.
"We want local authorities to implement a system of regular, well-managed maintenance - not to leave things until they deteriorate to the point that repairs become urgent and more costly.""We want local authorities to implement a system of regular, well-managed maintenance - not to leave things until they deteriorate to the point that repairs become urgent and more costly."