17 January 2025

AIA comment on Public Accounts Committee inquiry into local roads in England

“The findings of the Public Account Committee’s (PAC) inquiry into local roads in England highlight the critical challenges facing our local roads, many of which our Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey has reported for many years. “We were reassured to see that the PAC agrees that a step-change is needed. Its recommendations for […]

15 January 2025

AIA comment on National Pothole Day

“It’s important to remember that the challenge to improve the condition of our local road network goes beyond simply filling in potholes. “We know from our Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey 2024 that local road conditions are at an all-time low due to decades of underfunding[1] and that it would now cost more […]

6 January 2025

Updated road-related statistics available via online hub

The shift towards active modes of transport that took place during the pandemic has not been maintained, highlighting the continued challenges facing policy makers to promote a healthy lifestyle. It is just one of the many trends highlighted on RoadFile, the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s (AIA) online hub of road-related statistics, which is updated every two […]

20 December 2024

AIA comments on DfT highway maintenance funding for local roads announced today

“Less than half our local roads are currently in good state of repair1, so today’s announcement detailing how local roads spending will be allocated will be well received by all relying on the local road network to drive home this Christmas.

30 October 2024

AIA comments on highway maintenance funding announcements in today’s Budget 

“It was encouraging to hear the Chancellor acknowledge that the condition of our local roads is a reminder of ‘our failure to invest as a nation’, however it’s disappointing that the opportunity to deliver a step change was missed. “While, the additional £500 million for highway maintenance next year is welcome, it falls short of […]

24 October 2024

AIA calls for the Government to make the right call for local roads in Budget

Next week Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her first Budget and recent reports suggest a cut to spending is on the cards to try and plug the gap in the nation’s finances. It is anticipated that one of the casualties will be the previous administration’s commitment to spend an additional £8.3 billion over 11 years […]

25 July 2024

Comment on NAO report into the condition and maintenance of local roads in England

Please attribute comment to David Giles, Chair, Asphalt Industry Alliance “The results of the National Audit Office report clearly echo those of our Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey reports across the years and confirm what we already know – the condition of our local roads is now at an all-time low and there […]

15 July 2024

Comment on the appointment of new Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP and the key challenges ahead re improving local road conditions

“We look forward to working with the new Ministerial team at the DfT on efforts to improve the condition of our local road network and acknowledge Labour’s manifesto promise to ‘maintain and renew our road network’, through investment. “However, given the £14.4 billion highway repair backlog in England alone reported in our Annual Local Authority […]

19 June 2024

AIA appoints David Giles as new chair

The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has today (Wednesday 19 June) announced the appointment of a new Chair. David Giles, UK Director at Continental Bitumen, part of the Colas group of companies, has taken over from Rick Green who is retiring after seven years in the position and following a 40-year career. The AIA is a […]

5 October 2023

AIA responds to Government commitments to invest in road resurfacing

Commenting on Government announcements to redirect transport investment, including £8.3 billion into road resurfacing to ‘end the scourge of potholes’, Rick Green, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance said: ““Funding for the local road network has fallen short for many years resulting in declining conditions and a rising bill to put it right. “Local roads […]