PRESS RELEASE

Transport Action Network’s (TAN’s) response to the Prime Minister’s announcement today of more cash for roads [1].

Chris Todd Director of TAN, said:

“While extra funding for maintenance is always welcome, the amount pledged this year is less than one tenth that is required to get our roads and pavements back into shape [2]. Will drivers really be celebrating saving £59 on fuel duty when they are suffering burst tyres and damaged suspension, higher insurance bills and more stressful journeys? Wouldn’t they rather pay a little more so that roads can be fixed properly, or for better alternatives?

“This makes the announcement of new road schemes equally depressing. When we can’t afford to look after what we’ve got, why on earth are we building even more? Repairing existing roads is far better for the economy [3], but unfortunately doesn’t present politicians with opportunities to dress up in high-viz and cut ribbons. Often just getting the basics right is better for taxpayers and boosting growth. Hopefully an integrated national transport strategy [4] will help get these priorities right.”

– ENDS –

Notes for Editors

[1] Government Press Release, Monday, 24 March: PM tells councils to prove action on pothole plague to unlock extra cash and reveals £4.8 billion for major roads

[2] The backlog in local roads maintenance (not including the Strategic Roads Network) is £16.81bn as found in the 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, carried out by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA). On top of this there is a backlog of around £7bn in local bridge maintenance which is not being address here.

[3] The National Audit Office’s report: The condition and maintenance of local roads in England, 23 July 2024, highlights that the DfT’s 2020 estimate of the benefit-to-cost ratio of local road maintenance was 7:1 (significantly higher than new road schemes)

[4] An Integrated National Transport Strategy is currently being developed by the Department for Transport