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| Nearly 20% of Powys roads in 'poor condition' | Nearly 20% of Powys roads in 'poor condition' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nearly 20% of roads in Powys are said to be in a poor condition, with bad winter weather being blamed. | Nearly 20% of roads in Powys are said to be in a poor condition, with bad winter weather being blamed. |
| The Local Government Data Unit has compared standards between councils across a variety of areas such as roads, education and social services. | The Local Government Data Unit has compared standards between councils across a variety of areas such as roads, education and social services. |
| The unit said overall 13.5% of Welsh roads were in a poor condition, but Gwynedd boasted the best highways with just 6.4% classed in that category. | The unit said overall 13.5% of Welsh roads were in a poor condition, but Gwynedd boasted the best highways with just 6.4% classed in that category. |
| Powys council said it was investing £13m in roads over the next few years. | Powys council said it was investing £13m in roads over the next few years. |
| About 15% of roads in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham are also poorly maintained, according to the report for 2011-12. | About 15% of roads in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham are also poorly maintained, according to the report for 2011-12. |
| The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said the condition of the roads was largely due to severe winter weather in recent years. | |
| Councils spent £90m repairing 1.7 million potholes across Wales and England last year, said a survey published in March. | Councils spent £90m repairing 1.7 million potholes across Wales and England last year, said a survey published in March. |
| A report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance said it would take more than a decade to clear the backlog of repairs. | A report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance said it would take more than a decade to clear the backlog of repairs. |
| Potholes are formed when water runs through cracks in road surfaces, freezes and so expands, causing the surface to rupture and creating a void which later caves in under the weight of vehicles. | Potholes are formed when water runs through cracks in road surfaces, freezes and so expands, causing the surface to rupture and creating a void which later caves in under the weight of vehicles. |
| But the WLGA said road improvement schemes in Wales were set to receive a £60m boost from the local government borrowing initiative in 2012-13. | But the WLGA said road improvement schemes in Wales were set to receive a £60m boost from the local government borrowing initiative in 2012-13. |
| Two-thirds of the money will be spent on more than 1,200 road resurfacing or footway reconstruction projects. | Two-thirds of the money will be spent on more than 1,200 road resurfacing or footway reconstruction projects. |
| Steve Holdaway, head of local and environmental services at Powys council, said: "Powys has a quarter of the road network in Wales with many of those unclassified and C class. | Steve Holdaway, head of local and environmental services at Powys council, said: "Powys has a quarter of the road network in Wales with many of those unclassified and C class. |
| "The county council has recognised the investment required and through the Welsh government supported borrowing the council will be investing £13m in the network during this year and the next two financial years. | "The county council has recognised the investment required and through the Welsh government supported borrowing the council will be investing £13m in the network during this year and the next two financial years. |
| "We believe the investment will significantly improve the road network." | "We believe the investment will significantly improve the road network." |
| The WLGA said the Local Government Data Unit's figures showed overall local government performance had improved steadily during recent years. | The WLGA said the Local Government Data Unit's figures showed overall local government performance had improved steadily during recent years. |
| But councillor Hugh Evans from Denbighshire, the WLGA spokesman for improvement and performance, said: "We recognise however that some service areas have seen a dip in performance and in some services there remain wide variations in performance that councils will need to examine and address." | But councillor Hugh Evans from Denbighshire, the WLGA spokesman for improvement and performance, said: "We recognise however that some service areas have seen a dip in performance and in some services there remain wide variations in performance that councils will need to examine and address." |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said maintaining and improving the conditions of local roads was a matter for each individual authority. | A Welsh government spokesperson said maintaining and improving the conditions of local roads was a matter for each individual authority. |
| The Local Government Data Unit's report for 2010-11 showed that 6.6% of Wales' A roads and 7.9% of its B roads were in a "poor" condition. | The Local Government Data Unit's report for 2010-11 showed that 6.6% of Wales' A roads and 7.9% of its B roads were in a "poor" condition. |