The AIA comments on the Local Government Association’s claims that 2017 represents a tipping point for local roads

Alan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), comments on the Local Government Association’s statement on 2017 potentially becoming a tipping point for local roads:
“Prolonged under investment, coupled with wetter winters, increased traffic and an ageing network, means that the resilience of our local roads is at a low point. Clearing the maintenance backlog is impossible without a significant increase in funding.
“The fact remains that our local road network receives only a fraction of the funding allocated to the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and this disparity needs to be tackled proactively if further decline is to be prevented.
“Reallocating a few pence from existing fuel duty might prove an equitable way of turning the tide, as could previous calls for Vehicle Excise Duty to be redirected to local roads from 2021. Either way, the LGA is right that time is running out and that local roads maintenance should now be a national priority.”
Notes to editors
The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) is a partnership between the Mineral Products Association and Eurobitume UK. It draws on the knowledge and experience of both organisations to increase awareness of the asphalt industry and to promote the uses and benefits of asphalt.
The AIA produces the annual ALARM survey to provide a detailed picture of the condition of the local road network and enable insightful analysis of road maintenance and funding issues.
Our latest ALARM survey reported that local authority highways departments estimated that the time required, given adequate funding and resources, to bring the network up to scratch would be 14 years and would cost £11.8 billion.
The full report can be downloaded here. Please attribute any figures quotes to the AIA’s ALARM survey.

AIA comments on Chancellor’s Autumn Statement (November 23)

Alan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), comments on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement today (Wednesday November 23):
“We are reassured that the Chancellor has recognised the importance of investment in road infrastructure to stimulate productivity and growth.
“The devil is, of course, in the detail. Long term underfunding means that the local road network continues to deteriorate at a faster rate than it can be repaired. We hope the decline in maintenance funding experienced by local highways teams will be addressed by real and measurable increases.”

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Alan Mackenzie, Chairman of the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), makes the case for investing in local roads:

“The link between infrastructure investment and economic growth is well established but long term underfunding means that the local road network continues to deteriorate at a faster rate than it can be repaired.

“Ten years ago, our ALARM survey warned against putting off the investment needed today until tomorrow. Local authority highways engineers told us then that it would take 10.9 years to get their roads back into a reasonable condition. This year, they told us the backlog was 14 years. “The age of the network and the increased volume and weight of vehicles – not to mention the effect of wetter winters – threatens the resilience our roads. Unless action is taken, we face the real prospect of a local road network that is not fit for purpose.”

Notes to editors
The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) is a partnership between the Mineral Products Association and Eurobitume UK. It draws on the knowledge and experience of both organisations to increase awareness of the asphalt industry and to promote the uses and benefits of asphalt. The AIA produces the ALARM survey to provide a detailed picture of the condition of the local road network and enable insightful analysis of road maintenance and funding issues. This year’s ALARM survey reported that Local Authority highways departments estimated that the time required, given adequate funding and resources, to bring the network up to scratch would be 14 years. In ALARM 2006 the figure reported was 10.9 years. ALARM 2016 reported that the estimated one-time catch up cost is £11.8 billion.

Sharing Best Practice 2016 – 11 October 2016

Representatives from local authorities’ highways teams across England and Wales joined industry specialists at this year’s Sharing Best Practice event, held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.

Chaired by Peter Plisner, Transport Correspondent for BBC Midlands Today, the day included a series of presentations as well as a Fit for the Future poster session developed in conjunction with LG TAG.

Feedback received from the 90+ delegates has been extremely positive with over 94 per cent finding the event useful or very useful.

Please see below to view and download the speakers’ PowerPoint presentations:

FIT FOR THE FUTURE POSTER SESSION in association with LG TAG can be accessed below:

Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) response to DfT’s Pothole Action Fund figures announced today (Thursday April 7)

Please attribute quotes to Alan Mackenzie, Chairman, Asphalt Industry Alliance
The government’s announcement of a £50 million Pothole Action Fund for England in 2016/17 might seem like good news but is, in fact, another clear sign that the battle to rescue our crumbling local roads network is being lost.
It does nothing to address the cumulative effect of decades of underfunding and perpetuates the downward spiral of the ‘patch and mend’ approach.
The most efficient way to deal with the problem of our failing roads is to fix them properly and stop potholes forming in the first place.
Poorly maintained roads simply cannot withstand the combination of severe weather and increased traffic, which is why potholes form, and which will, in time, undermine the entire structure of the road.
Our research has shown that an invest-to-save approach pays dividends with every planned investment providing long-term savings of more than twice the amount spent. Throwing money into potholes is complete madness.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 
Samantha Stagg or Madeleine Hardman, AIA press and information office:
+44 (0)207 222 0136