Spend rising tax income on improving local roads – LGA

12.00 | 18 October 2017 | | 1 comment


Image: LGA

Councils are calling for more funding to improve local roads, after new analysis suggests the Government is receiving an additional £400m a year from rising fuel and motoring taxes.

The Local Government Association (LGA) analysis, published on 13 October, concludes that if the Government matched the increase in fuel and motoring tax income generated over the last decade, town halls would have an extra £418m to spend on local roads each year.

The LGA, which represents local authorities across England and Wales, says additional funding would help councils reduce congestion, improve air quality and contribute towards tackling the country’s £12bn road repairs backlog.

The analysis also shows there are now 151 vehicles, per mile, on UK roads – compared to just 119 vehicles per mile in 2000. Travel speeds are also down with the average speed on local ‘A’ roads at 25 miles per hour, a year-on-year fall of 1%.

Cllr Martin Tett, LGA transport spokesman, said: “The vast majority of journeys start or end on a local road – the impact of almost 30% more vehicles cannot be overstated. Congestion, wear and tear of our roads, and air quality are all affected.

“With eight-and-a-half million more vehicles on our roads since 2000, it’s no wonder our local roads are facing a growing congestion crunch and it would now take £12bn and a decade to clear the nation’s road repair backlog.

“The Government needs to develop a fully funded plan to help councils deliver the desperately-needed local road improvements we need. This should include matching the extra growth in tax take with the funding it provides councils.

“This would see councils given an extra £400m a year to spend on filling potholes, easing congestion and protect vital bus routes. Only with long-term funding can councils deliver roads truly fit for the 21st Century.”


Category: General news.

 

 

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